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Duke   University  Libraries 

Official  report 
Conf  Pam  i2mo  #210 


OFFICIAL      1 


REPORTS  OF  BATTLES 


KMHR  I 


ONEL  WM.L  >N'8  REPORT  OF  EXPEDITION  TO  BEY 

REPORT  "i  LTION  OF  I  I 

TLB  ROCE  ;   MAJOR    -  i,  BTEY  I  I     Of 

BATTLE   OE    LOOKOUT    MOUNTAIN ;  AND    LIEU! 
A  NT  COLO  N  E  L  M    A.  II AYN1  0  F  E  N  - 

MENTSAT  KNOXVILLE,  LIMESTONB 
i'.K  AND  CARTER'S  STATION. 


PUBLISHED    BY  ORDER  OF  COXGRI>S. 


RICHMOND  : 

^R.  M.  SMITH,  TUBLIC  PRINT EE. 

1861 


MESSAGE  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 

Richmond,  Va.,  Feb.  15,  1S64. 
To  the  Senate  and  House  of  R  presentatives  : 

I  herewith  transmit,  for  your  information,  communications  from 
the  Secretary  of  War,  covering  copies  of  several  additionnl  reports 
of  military  operations. 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 


COMMUNICATION  FROM  SECRETARY  OF  WAR. 

Confederate  States  of  America,  1 

War  Department,  > 

Richmond,  Va.,  Feb.   12,  I8G-*.  ) 

To  the  President  of  the  Confederate  States  : 

!tmr  :  I  have  the  honor  to  forward,  for  the  information  of  Congress, 
copies  of  the  following  reports  : 

Colonel  William  L.  Jackson,  and  subordinate  commanders,  of  expe- 
dition to  Beverly. 

Major  General  Sterling  Price  and  Colonel  Dobbins,  of  evacuation 
of  Little  flock. 

I  am,  6ir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant. 

JAMES  A.  SEDD' 

Secretary  of  War. 


COMMUNICATION  FROM  SECRETARY  OF  WAR. 

Confederate  States  of  America,  ^ 

War  Department,  \ 

Richmond,  Va.,  Feb.  13,  1864.  ) 

To  the  President  of  the  Confederate  States  : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  forward,  for  the  information  of  Congress, 
copies  of  the  reports  of  Major  General  Stevenson  and  his  subordi- 
nates, of  the  battle  of  Chattanooga,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  M.  A. 
Haynes,  of  engagements  at  Knoxville,  Limestone  Creek  and  Carter's 
Station. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  A.  SEDDON, 

Secretary  of  War. 


EXPEDITION  TO  BEVERLY. 


REPORT  OF  COLONEL  WM.  L.  JACKSON. 


HEADQUARTERS    NEAR    Hl'NTERS;  II.I.I  .   ) 

July  11,  1863.      5 

.   To  Major  Charles  S.  Strinopellow, 

A.  A.    General,  Southwestern  Department  of  Va.  : 

Major:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit,  herewith,  the  proceedings  of 
/    the  expedition  to  Beverly  : 

i'.i  Monday,  the  29th  ultimo,  the  force  under  my  command  m 
as  follows  :  Detachment  of  cavalry,  under  command  of  Captain  John 
moved  from  Clov<  r  Lick  to  Big  Spring  ;  detachment?  of 
cavalry,  under  command  of  Captain  J.  W.  Mare!, 
from  a  point  near  Green  bank  to  Clover  Lick;  the  infantry  at  this 
camp,  accompanied  by  a  section  of  artillery,  commanded  by  Lieu- 
tenant F.  G\  Thrasher,  of  Chapman's  battery,  moved  to  within  five 
miles  of  Big  Spring;  Captain  John  Righter,  with  his  company  of- 
cavalry  and  parts  of  Campbell's,  Arnett's  and  Evans'  companies, 
moved  on  to  the  Staunton  and  Parke rsbnrg  turnpike,  through  what 
u  known  as  the  Cheat  Pass  ;  Licutcnaut  Colonel  A.  C.  Dunn,  with 
detachment  of  his  battalion  and  Captain  E.  M.  Corder's  company, 
accompanied  by  several  excellent  guides,  on  the  same  day  moved 
from  llightown  to  a  short  distance  beyond  Slaven's  Cabin,  when  he 
took  a  route  to  the  right,  leading  to  the  rear  of  Beverly  on  the 
Phillippi  road. 

On  Tuesday  evening,  the  30th  ultimo,  the  infantry,  artillery  and 
the  detachments  of  cavalry,  under  Captains  Marshall  and  Spriggg, 
encamped  a  few  miles  beyond  Valley  mountain. 

.  On  Wednesday  evening,  the  1st  instant,  Major  J.  B.  Lady  was 
ordered,  with  two  companies  which  he  has  raised  under  authority  of 
the  Secretary  of  War,  and  parts  of  three  other  companies  of  my 
command,  to  proceed  to  the  rear  of  Beverly,  on  the  road  leading  to 
Buckhannon.  He  turned  to  the  left  about  two  miles  and  a  half  be- 
yond the  Crouch  fortifications,  and,  by  blind  paths  through  the  woods, 


succeeded,  by  his  own  indomitable  energy,  the  assistance  of  his 
guides,  and  the  patient  perseverance  of  his  men,  in  reaching  the 
position. 

He  was  ordered  to  close  upon  the  enemy  'whenever  he  heard  my 
artillery.  How  he  performed  his  duty  will  be  seen  by  the  report  here- 
with submitted.  I  am  of  the  opinion,  that,  unaided  as  he  was,  in  the 
attack  hereafter  mentioned  to  have  been  made  by  Lieutenant  Colonel 
A.  C.  Dunn,  he  (Major  Lady)  accomplished  all  that  he  could  under 
the  circumstances.  I  omitted  to  mention  that  I  sent,  to  support 
Major  Lady  in  his  rear,  Sergeant  Rader,  with  twenty  mounted  men, 
to  Middleford  Creek  bridge,  eighteen  miles  in  his  rear.  They  per- 
formed their  duty  faithfully. 

On  Thursday  morning,  at  daybreak,  I  reached  Huttonsville,  and 
found  that  Captain  Righter,  who  had  written  instructions  as  to  the 
position  of  the  pickets  of  the  enemy  to  within  five  miles  of  Beverly, 
and  orders  to  capture  them,  permitting  none  to  escape,  was  engaged  in 
executing  his  orders.  He  had  surrounded  the  pickets  at  each  post, 
ana  captured  all,  fourteen  in  number.  Ascertaining  the  time  when 
the  relief  pickets  would  arrive,  and  that  I  had  time  to  spare,  under  the 
arrangement  with  Major  Lady  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Dunn,  I  sent 
forward  Captain  Marshall,  with  a  portion  of  his  company,  and  he,  in 
connection  with  Captain  Righter,  so  posted  the  men  as  to  surround  a 
certain  position  when  the  relief  came.  The  relief  arrived  in  time, 
fourteen  in  number,  and  they  were  all  captured.  The  road  was  now 
clear  to  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  Beverly,  and  the  surprise  would 
have  been  complete,  had  it  not  been  for  a  woman,  who,  in  some  way, 
discovered  our  approach,  and  who  met  a  party  of  about  twenty-five  of 
the  enemy,  including  the  colonel  commanding  at  Beverly,  taking  a 
morning   ride,  unconscious  of  our  proximity. 

Within  eight  miles  of  the  place  I  moved  about  two  hundred  men, 
including  the  company  of  Captain  George  Downs,  commanded  by 
Lieutenant  William  Harris  ;  Captain  J.  W.  Ball's  company,  com- 
manded by  Lieutenant  C.  W.  Mintcr,  (Captains  Down  and  Ball  being 
absent,  sick;)  parts  of  Young's  and  Lewis'  companies,  under  Lieut. 
R.  D.  Lurty  ;  Captain  S.  H.  Campbell's  company  ;  some  recruits, 
not  organized,  under  Sergeant  E.  Tibb's,  and  some  mounted  men, 
under  Captain  John  M  Burn,  all  under  command  of  Major  D.  B. 
Stewart,  across  the  Valley  river,  on  the  Back  road,  so  as  to  get  on 
the  right  flank  of  the  enemy,  and  to  be  in  position  to  co-operate  with 
or  support  Lieutenant  Colonel  Dunn,  if  he  advanced.  Major  Stewart 
performed  the  duty  assigned  him  entirely  to  my  satisfaction,  and 
gives,  in  his  report,  an  account  of  his  operations,  a  copy  of  which  is 
herewith  enclosed. 

I  then  moved  to  the  front  of  Beverly,  throwing  forward  the  detach- 
ment under  Captain  Spriggs,  to  the  Burnt  bridge,  which  was  the 
centre  of  my  operations  in  front,  Major  Stewart  being  on  the  right, 
and  the  detachment  under  Captain  Marshall  to  the  left,  on  the  Back 
road,  leading  to  the  Buckhannon  road.  A  considerable  force  of  the 
enemy  advanced  on  this  road;  but  were  promptly  driven  back  by 
Captain  Marshall,  assisted  by  a  flank  movement  of  Captain  Spriggs. 


Such  was  the  disposition  of  my*  force,  that  the  enemy  were  entirely 
surrounded,  if  Lieutenant  Colonel  Dunn  was  in  position,  and  he  had 
ample  time  and  competent  guides.  The  force  of  the  enemy  did  not 
exceed  one  thousand,  including  infantry,  cavalry  and  artillery,  of 
which  they  had  four  pieces.  My  force  exceeded  theirs  by  at  least 
two  hundred,  including  that  under  Colonel  Dunn.  At  two  o'clock, 
P.  M.,  I  ordered  my  artillery  to  open,  which  was  the  signal  for  the 
general  attack  to  be  made.  ■ 

From  my  position,  having  a  clear  view  of  the  field,  I  saw  no  move- 
ment on  the  part  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Dunn.  I  then  had  my  ar- 
tillery supported  by  Cnptain  Neal,  with  his  and  parts  of  two  other 
companies,  (Captain  Marshall  also  being  in  a  position  to  support,) 
placed  in  position  on  a  hill  opposite  the  position  of  the  enemy,  about 
one  mile  distant,  and  then  commenced  an  "  artillery  duel"  (hoping 
that  time  would  be  given  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Dunn  to  come  up  and 
take  part,)  in  which  the  enemy  had  the  advantage  of  position,  num- 
ber of  pieces,  and  quality  of  ammunition.  Not  more  than  one  in  fif- 
teen of  our  shells  exploded.  No  material  damage  was  inflicted  or  in- 
curred. One  howitzer  was  slightly  disabled  by  a  piece  of  shell,  but 
was  soon  soon  rapaired.  The  enemy  occupied  a  very  etrong  position 
on  Butcher's  hill,  in  the  rear  of  the  town,  near  the  Phillipi  road.  I 
felt  confident  in  the  ability  of  my  force,  without  the  assistance  of 
that  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Dunn,  to  drive  them  from  that  posi- 
tion, but  as  my  object  was  to  capture,  not  to  run  them,  I  delayed  the 
assault,  yet  hoping  to  hear  from  and  to  see  Lieutenant  Colonel  Dunn  ; 
but  he  was  not  to  be  found. 

During  the  night  I  ordered  Major  Stewart  back  a  short  distance  to 
a  safe  position,  holding  the  ground  1  had  obtained  during  the  day  in 
the  front.  Early  the  next  morning,  (the  3rd  instant,)  having  heard 
nothing  from  Lieutenant  Colonel  Dunn,  I  determined  to  assault  the 
position  of  the  enemy.  Accordingly,  I  ordered  Major  Stewart  up  to 
the  position  he  held  the  evening  before.  In  advancing  to  do  so,  the 
skirmish,  referred  to  in  his  report,  occurred.  I  dismounted  a  consid- 
erable portion  of  my  cavalry,  and  was  moving  to  the  assault,  when  I 
discovered  a  reinforcement  coming  to  the  enemy  on  the  Fhillippi  road, 
and  was  also  advised  of  the  same  by  Major  Lady  and  Captain  Mar- 
shall. My  own  opinion  is,  that  the  reinforcement  received  numbered 
at  least  seven  hundred ;  others,  and  prisoners,  estimate  it  at  a  greater 
number.  I  saw  about  seven  hundred  mounted  men  entering  the 
place. 

Having  now  become  satisfied  that  if  Lieutenant  Colonel  Dunn  ever 
reached  the  position  to  which  he  was  ordered,  he  had  fallen  back,  and 
that  it  was  imprudent  to  continue  the  attack,  I  made  demonstrations 
in  front  for  four  hours,  in  the  mean  time  drawing  in  the  forces  under 
the  command  of  Majors  Stewart  and  Lady,  and  sending  scouts  to  com- 
municate with  Lieutenant  Colonel  Dunn. 

At  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  of  Friday,  the  3rd  instant,  I  slowly  retired 
in  a  manner  to  prevent  my  being  flanked,  or  the  enemy  reaching  my 
rear.  The  enemy  did  not  follow  me  on  that  day,  and  about  nine 
o'clock,  P.  M.,  I  went  into  camp  at  the  crouch  fortifications  with  my 


*  8 

infantry  and   artillery,  posting  my  favalry  between  that  point  and 
Huttonsville'. 

It  is  proper  now  to  state  that  Major  J.  R.  Claiborne  with  a  detach- 
ment of  one  hundred  mounted  men  of  Dunn's  battalion,  who,  on  the 
way,  was  ordered  to  follow  me,  (which  order,  left  at  Warm  Springs, 
he  did  not  receive,  and  without  it  was  coming  up  to  reinforce  me,) 
was  met,  as  I  was  falling  back,  about  six  miles  this  side  of  Beverly. 
I  left  him  in  the  rear  during  Friday  night,  as  his  men  and  horses  were 
comparatively  fresh. 

In  the  morning  (the  4th  instant,)  I  received  dispatch  number  one, 
from  Lieutenant  Colonel  Dunn,  a  copy  of  which  and  copies  of  dis- 
patches numbers  two  and  three,  are  herewith  enclosed.  I  immediately 
ordered  Major  Claiborce  to  cross  the  river  at  the  point  he  then  was, 
some  four  miles  from  Huttonsville,  and  more  to  a  point  near  Stripes', 
towards  the  Cheat  Pass,  and  to  communicate  with  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Dunn,  who. was  supposed  to  be  coming  that  way.  I  ordered  the  de- 
tachments, under  Captains  Marshall  and  Spriggs,  to  Huttonsville,  to' 
cover  this  movement  of  Major  Claiborne,  and  masked  my  artillery 
and  infantry  about  one  mile  this  side  of  the  Crouch  fortifications. 
The  force  at  Huttonsville  was  directed  to  fall  back  towards  me  in 
good  order^if  any  considerable  advance  was  made  by  the  enemy  on  the 
route  I  was  taking,  and  Major  Claiborne  or  Lieutenant  Colonel  Dunn, 
if  he  came  up  to  Stripes',  wag,  in  the  event  of  such  advance,  to  come 
in  upon  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  while  I  would  attack  them  in  front. 
If  there  was  no  such  advance  by  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  then  Major 
Claiborne  or  Lieutenant  Colonel  Dunn  was  to  fall  back  towards  High- 
town,  and  the  detachments  at  Huttonsville  to  fall  back  to  me.  Major 
Claiborne  reached  the  point  near  Stripes'  and  dispatched  to  Lieute- 
nant Colonel  Dunn  ;  but  it  now  appears  that  he  had  fallen  back  to 
camp  Bartow,  and  was  not  advancing 

A  short  distance  beyond  Huttonsville,  soon  after  the  arrival  of  the 
detachments  there,  Captain  Spriggs,  being  in  front,  had  a  skirmish 
with  the  advance  of  the  enemy,  they  falling  back  with  a  view,  no 
doubt,  to  draw  him  to  their  main  force  ;  but,  a3  ordered,  Captains 
Spriggs  and  Marshall  fell  back  a  short  distance,  and  there  awaited  a 
further  advance.  While  this  was  going  on,  Major  Claiborne  so  ma- 
noeuvred as  to  disconcert  the  enemy,  as  was  evident  by  the  hesitation 
and  caution  displayed.  They  did  not  anticipate  the  appearance  of 
any  force  at  the  point  where  he  was,  and  could  not  comprehend  its 
strength. 

Advised  of  this  advance,  I  moved  my  infantry  and  artillery  back 
to  the  Crouch  fortifications,  directing  the  several  detachments  of  cav- 
alry to  fall  back  slowly  towards  my  position.  This  order  was  execu- 
ted, the  enemy  advancing  when  the  cavalry  receded,  and  halting  and 
hesitating  whenever  they  halted  and  formed  line  of  battle.  A  junc- 
tion being  formed  of  the  three  detachments  aforesaid,  Major  Claiborne, 
by  my  order,  took  command  of  all  my  cavalry.  The  pursuing  force 
numbered  about  eighteen  hundred. 

Ascertaining  that  .the  enemy  would  not  advance  on  my  position,  or 
risk  a  general  engagement,  and  that  the  waters  were  rising  rapidly  in 


tny  rear,  I  fell  back  with  th-i  main  command  to  Marshall's  store,  an! 
encamped  there  during  the  night,  the  cavalry  encamping  a  few  miles 
in  nn  rear.  While  this  movement  was  being  accomplished,  the  enemy 
fell  back  to  Beverly.  Lieutenant  Colonel  A.  C.  Dunn,  it  appears 
from  his  own  dispatches,  was  in  position  at  the  time  appointed.  He 
was  ordered  to  make  a  vigorous  at;ack  upon  the  rear  of  the  enemy 
whenever  he  heard  my  Bignal.  This  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  avoid 
hearing.  I  am  reliably  informed,  that  instead  of  advancing  and  attack- 
ing  as  ordered,  he  fell  back  when  my  signal  was  board.  His  dispatches 
are  contradictory  in  the   atterant  to  explain    thi  ;ra  If 

movement.  I  have  ftdt  it  my  duty  to  order  hiamnder  arrest,  and  will 
prefer  charges.  Mjjor  J.  R.  Claiborne  is  now  in  command  of  the 
battalion. 

Our  loss  in  the  attack  and  various  skirmishes  is  as  follows : 
Killed  four;  wounded  five,  and  missing  four.      Among  the  killed  wag 
the  gallant  Lieutenant  Wm.  Harris,   who  died    after   being  mortally 
wounded,  while  bravely  leading  his  men  in  a  brilliant  charge. 

The  loss  of  the  enemy,  from  the  best  information  I  can  obtain,  is 
as  follows : 

Killed  forty  ;  wounded  sixty  seven;  prisoners  fifty  £  . 
We  also  captured  a  number  of  horses,  cavalry  equipment-  and  arms. 
These  I  will  send  you  a  list  of,  and  ask  what  disposition  shall  be  made 
of  the  horses  as  soon  as  I  can  get  the  necessary  reports,  which,  owing 
to  the  disposition  of  my  force,  rendered  necessary  to  carry  out  my 
orders,  are  delayed. 

The  officers  and  men  of  my  command,  with  but  few  exceptions,  per- 
formed their  duty  faithfully  and  cheei fully  throughout  the  whole  ex- 
pedition^notwithstanding  but    one,  and    the  mul 

and  deep  waters  through  which  they  were  compelled  to  wade.      1  I 
that  the  limits  of  this  report  will  not  admit  of  honorable  mention  of 
all  who  exhibited  personal  bravery  ar.d  high  soldierly  qualities. 

I  am  compelled,  however,  to  bear  testimony  to  the  distinguished 
conduct  of  Captains  Sprij  -hall,  Righter,  and   Elihu  Hutton, 

and  Lieutenant  Thrasher,  of  the  artillery,  and  Lieutenant  Jacob  W. 
Wamsly.  I  was  much  indebted  throughout  to  Captain  Marshall  on 
account  of  his  thorough  knowledge  of  the  country,  personal  bravery 
and  excellent  judgment. 

Accompanying  this  report  is  a  rough  and  somewhat  imperfect  plot 
of  the  country,  the  various  routes  taken,  and  the  prominent  points, 
which  will  give  a  general  idea  of  my  movements. 

Very  respectfullv,  vour  obedient  servant, 

WM.  L.  JACKSON, 
Colonel  nineteenth  Regiment  Virginia  cav  dry. 


LIEUTENANT  COLONEL   DUNN    TO   COLONEL  JACKSON. 

Headquarters  Thirty- seventh  Battalion, 
Camp  Tilghman,  Hightown,  July  9,  1863. 

Colonel  Wm.  L.  Jackson  : 

Colonel:  Your  communication  of  the  4th  instant  was  handed  me 
by  Major  Claiborne  on  yesterday.  I  am  now  in  position  at  High- 
town,  carrying  out  my  orders  from  you,  I  having  a  company  at  Mon- 
terey, which  company  are  picketing  and  scouting  as  far  as  Franklin, 
in  Pendleton  county.  I  am  diligently  scouting,  and  I  shall  figbt  the 
enemy  if  ever  they  should  advance.  I  have  sent  to  Staunton  for 
twenty  days'  rations  for  my  command.  I  am  sorry  our  plans  were 
not  successful  in  capturing  the  enemy.  I  was  in  my  position  two 
hours  before  the  time  given  by  you,  and  have  done  everything  in  my 
power  to  carry  out  your  orders,  and,  in  fact,  have  done  more  than 
you  ordered  me  to  do.  Mr.  Caplinger,  one  of  my  guides,  left,  near 
Beverly,  on  Tuesday.  He  says  the  enemy  reinforced  some  two  thou- 
sand five  hundred  men,  and  on  Friday  morning,  shortly  after,  I  fell 
back.  They  advanced  and  secured  the  position  I  held,  thinking  I  was 
still  there.  They  could  not  find  out  how  I  got  in  their  rear  or  how  I 
went  out.  He  says  the  reinforcements  had  left  for  Grafton,  leaving 
Colonel  Harris'  forces  still  in  Beverly. 

I  am,  Colonel,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  C.  DU^N, 
Lieutenant  Colonel  commanding. 

I  certify  this  to  be  a  true  copy. 

W.  S.  Lurty,  Adft  \9th  Va.  Cavalry. 


REPORT  OF  MAJOR  LADY. 

Headquarters  Lady's  Battalion,      ) 
Camp  Northwest,  July  11,  1863.  $ 

\V.  L.  Jacksov, 

Colonel  Commanding  : 

Sir  :  In  compliance  with  your  orders  of  the  28th  ultimo,  at  h.ilf- 
past  ftur,  P.  M.,  I  proceeded  to  the  rear  of  the  enemy  on  the  Buck- 
hannon  road,  with  five  companies,  commanded  by  the  following  offi- 
cers :  Captains  Evans,  Arnett,  Hayhurst,  Duncan,  and  Lieutenant 
Boggs,  making  a  total,  rank  and  file,  one  hundred  and  fifty  strong.  After 
n  forced  march  of  twelve  miles,  over  a  series  of  the  most  rugged  and 
pathless  ridges  of  a  densely  timbered  mountain  section  of  country, 
fording  streams,  &o.,  I  reached  the  base  of  Rich  mountain  at  three 
o'clock,  A.  M  ,  of  the  29th  ultimo.  The  men  being  exhausted  and  una- 
ble to  advance  without  rest,  I  halted  two  hours.  At  the  command  "halt," 
the  men  dropped  from  their  feet  and  slept  till  five  o'clock,  A.  ?>!., 
when,  at  the  command  "fall  in,"  though  weary  and  foot-sore,  they 
cheerfully  and  promptly  responded,  and  I  proceeded  as  far  as  Ann- 
strong's  cabin,  near  the  summit  of  the  mountain,  where  I  allowed 
the  men  to  wash  and  fill  their  canteens.  Here  Mr.  Armstrong  prof- 
ferred  his  services  to  open  a  road,  as  the  brush  was  so  thick  an  to 
render  it  almost  impossible  to  pass  through  between  this  point  and 
the  road,  at  which  point  I  arrived  at  ten  o'clock,  A.  M.,  being  five 
miles  west  of  Beverly.  I  halted  my  men  near,  but  concealed  from,  the 
road,  where  they  were  shaded  and  in  reach  of  pure  water.  I  imme- 
diately threw  forward  a  picket  of  twenty  men,  under  command  of 
Lieutenant  Hunt,  with  orders  to  proceed  carefully,  without  causing 
alarm,  to  within  two  miles  of  Beverly,  and  take  a  concealed  position 
commanding  the  road,  where  he  would  be  enabled  to  notify  me  of  the 
movements  of  the  enemy  and  cut  off  all  communication  on  the  road, 
and  at  the  first  report  of  artillery  to  move  forward  and  "cut  off"  the 
enemy's  picket.  I  also  sent  a  courier  to  notify  Colonel  Dunn  of  my 
position  and  my  readiness  to  co-operate  with  him  in  any  movement 
on  the  town.  At  one  o'clock  Lieutenant  Hunt  sent  in  two  prisoners, 
who  were  going  home  on  furloughs  granted  by  Colonel  Harris,  com- 
manding the  enemy's  forces,  whose  statements  corresponded  with 
your  previous  information,  except  in  reference  to  the  reinforcement 
expected  that  day.  I  remained  in  this  position  till  three  o'clock,  Pi 
M.,  when  the  "signal  gun"  was  fired,  when  I  immediately  ordered  my 
men  in  line  of  march  and  moved  rapidly  forward  to  within  a  mile  and 
a  quarter  of  town,  taking  a  position  which  I  could  have  held  against 
any  force  the  enemy  could  have  brought  from  town.  This  position 
was  at  the  first  abrupt  turn  in  the  road  west  of  the  Baker  house.  I 
then  sent  forward  Captain  Arnett  to  take  a  concealed  position  in 
front,  sweeping  the  road  and  commanding  the  only  position  on  which 
the  enemy  could  have  posted  artillery,  without  first  driving  him  back 


12 

•with  an  infantry  force,  to  have  done  which,  would  have  brought  them 
under  fire  of  the  reserve  of  my  command  on    their  left  flank.     I  at 
the  same  time  sent  forward  Captain  Evans,   with  a  squad,  to  recon- 
noitre between  me  and  the  town  and  examine  the   fortifications  near 
the  Baker  house.     In  an  hour  he  reported  that  the  enemy  had  evi- 
dently determined  to  make  a  stand  in  town  and  that  a  strong  position 
could  be  taken  beyond  the  Baker  house,  near  the  old  breastworks.     I 
moved   forward  my    command   as  far  as  practicable  without  bring- 
ing it  in  range  of  the  enemy's  artillery,  and  halting  the  command,  I 
went  forward  and  examined  the  ground  in  front  and   fully  approved 
the  position  selected  by  Captain  Evans.     I  then    moved  my  men  for- 
ward to  a  strip  of  woods,   near   where   I   had  first  halted  them   and 
allowed  them  to  remain  there  till  I  could  move  them  under  cover  of 
night  to  the  position   selected.     About  this  time  the  cavalry  scout 
reported  to  me  that  they  had  carried  out  all  their  instructions,  besides 
finding  the  notorious  Yankee  spy  and  bushwhacker,  Simmons,  in  his 
own  house.     On    demanding   of  him    a    surrender,    he  peremptorily 
refused,  and  commenced  firing,  killing  private  Dent,  of  com- 
pany, a  gallant  soldier,  whereupon  our  men  returned  the  fire,  killing 
him,  four  balls  passing    through   his   body.     I  immediately    ordered 
them  to  endeavor  to  open  communication  with  Colonel  Dunn,  which, 
up  to  that  time,  I  had  been  unable  to  do,  having  had  no  mounted  men 
with  me,  and  my  dismounted  men- being  too  much  fatgued  to  attempt 
it.     I  placed  Captain  Evans,  with  forty  men,  on  the  road  to  blockade 
and  picket  the  same,  and  open  the  engagement  should  the  enemy  ad- 
vance or  evacuate  the  town.     I  at  the  same  time  posted  Capt.  Arnett, 
with  his  company,  on  the  adjacent  height  to  support  Captain  Evans, 
reserving  the  companies   of  Captains  Havhurst,   Duncan,  and  Lieu- 
tenant Boggs,  under  my  command.     We  remained  in  this  position  till 
the  morning  of  the  30th.    At  about  eight  o'clock  the  cavalry  reported 
that  they  had  not  been   able  to  open  communication  with  Colonel 
Dunn.     An  hour  after  this  time,  and  while  the  cavalry  were  grazing 
their  horses,  the  front  of  the  enemy's    reinforcement,  which  I   esti- 
mated at  soven  hundred   strong,   appeared  on  the  Phillippi  road,  ad- 
vancing rapidly  in  the  direction  of  Beverly  and  getting  within  a  milo 
of  mj  position.     I  sent  a  squad  of  cavalry  to  reconnoitre  and  ascer- 
tain more  definitely  their  number  and  report  their  movements.     I  at 
the  s*me  time  dispatched  a  courier  notifying  you  of  this  reinforcement. 
At  about  half-past  nine,  A.  M.,  from  the  movements  of  the  enemy's 
infantry,,  cavalry,   and  artillery,   I  was  assured  that  they  intended 
turning  a  force  on  me  for  the  purpose  of  cutting  off  my  retreat.    One 
piece  of  their  artillery  being  so  placed  as  to    sweep  the  road  on  my 
line    of  retreat,   and   deeming    it  inexpedient  unnecessarily  expose 
my  men,  I  fell  back  to  the  position  first  described,  on   entering  the 
road  so  as  to  protect  them  from  the  range  of  artillery,  allowing  Lieut. 
Clancy  to  remain  to  notify  the  squad  of  cavalry  of  the  change,  and 
ordering  them,  through  him,  to  report  to  me  forthwith  on  their  return 
from  their  reconnoitre.     While  in  this  position,  your  first  dispatch 
came  to  me,  ordering  me  to  "fall  back  and  join  you  immediately,  and 
should  the   enemy  attack   me   to  fight  him  and  fall  back,"  which  I 


13 

v. 

had  already  prepared  to  do.  I  had  sent  Lieutenant  Toe  forward,  with 
a  squad  of  ten  men,  as  an  advanced  guard,  and  Captain  Duncan,  with 
ten  men,  back,  as  a  rear  guard,  to  notify  mo  of  the  enemy's  approach 
from  either  direction.  From  this  point  and  in  this  order  I  joined 
you  without  any  interruption  whatever. 

My  thanks  are  due  to  the  officers  and  men  under  my  command  for 
the  patience  and  endurance  exhibited  on  this  fatiguing  expedition, 
and  for  the  prompt  manner  in  which  they  responded  to  all  calls  made 
upon  them.  And  I  am  especially  indebted  to  Captains  Evans  and 
Arnett  for  their  valuable  assistance  in  selecting  positions  and  the 
skillful  handling  of  their  men. 

Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  B.  LADY, 
Major  co?nmandi?)g  detachment. 


REPORT  OF  MAJOR  STEWART. 

Camp  Northwest,  July  9,  1863. 

Colonel  W.  L.  Jackson, 

Commanding  Huntersville  Line : 

Sir  :  I  herewith  transmit  the  following  report  of  the  part  taken  by 
me  and  the  troops  I  had  the  honor  to  command  during  the  late  invest- 
ment of  Beverly,  in  Randolph  county,  Virginia: 

After  leaving  you  below  Huttonsville,  on  the  morning  of  the  2nd 
instant,  we  moved  forward  as  directed  on  the  Back  road,  as  fast  as 
the  condition  of  the  men  would  permit;  received  a  dispatch  from 
Captain  Marshall,  to  which  I  replied,  as  I  dispatched  to  you^from 
Mr.  Wamsley's.  As  I  had  information  from  the  front  that  was 
entirely  satisfactory,  I  depended  entirely  on  my  cavalry  scouting  the 
road  till  some  two  miles  above  Henry  Harper's,  where  I  detached 
Captain  Campbdll's  company,  and  ordered  it  to  deploy  on  my  right 
as  skirmishers. 

I  had  been  informed  by  soldiers,  who  reported  to  me  at  Wamsley's, 
that  they  had  scouted  the  road  from  a  short  distance  above  Burnt 
bridge,  that  the  enemy  had  no  picket  at  Harper's  house.  I  moved 
my  skirmishers  so  as  not  to  discover  my  approach  to  the  enemy  till  at 
a  point  opposite  Ward's,  from  which  the  position  of  the  pickets  could 
be  determined.  I  here  found  them  still  in  position  at  Harper's  house, 
and  accordingly  detailed  twenty-five  men  and  sent  them  forward  to 
take  possession  of  both  roads  beyond  their  post.  With  them  I  sent  my 
two  guides,  Wamsley  and  Currence.  Shortly  after  they  had  moved 
forward,  a  courier  came  from  below  (from  Beverly,  perhaps,)  and,  on 
his  approach,  they  withdrew,  at  a  full  run,  in  the  direction  of  Beverly. 
Seeing  that  all  chance  of  their  capture  was  now  at  an  end,  I  moved 
my  infantry  forward,  moving  my  skirmisher  near  the  road,  where 
there  were  woods  to  conceal  them,  and  out  of  sight  of  the  road,  where 
there  were  none,  while  I  made  a  detour  to  the  right  with  the  main 
body.  Captain  Burns  I  left  with  the  cavalry  at  Ward's,  where  they 
were  concealed  from  below.  On  reaching  the  crest  of  the  first  ridge, 
of  which  there  was  a  complete  succession,  running  at  right  angles  to 
the  river  and  road,  I  discoved  a  scouting  party,  numbering  eight,  of 
cavalry,  coming  on  the  road  from  the  direction  of  Beverly.  I  here 
directed  a  message  to  be  sent  to  Captain  Burns,  informing  him  of 
their  approach,  which  I  learn  he  did  not  receive,  though  it  was  unne- 
cessary, as  he  could  not  but  discover  their  approach.  We  then  moved 
forward  so  as  to  gain  the  top  of  the  next  ridge,  which  we  did  just  in 
time  to  prevent  the  scouts  being  fired  on  by  Captain  Campbell,  who 
had  halted,  and  his  men  were  in  the  act  of  taking  aim  when  his  scouts 
passed  up,  six  in  number,  two  having  halted  at  Harper's.  I  ordered 
him  not  to  fire,  and  as  soon  as  I  could  do  so  without  giving  any 
alarm,  moved  the  head  of  the  column  forward  to  the  position  occupied 
hj  Captain  Campbell,  reaching  this  just  a  Captain  Burns  opened  fire 


15 

on  them,  and  ordered  a  charge  from  his  position  above.  I  moved  my 
right  down  to  the  road  with  orders  to  fire  on  them  in  case  they  could 
not  halt  them.  Not  reaching  the  road  in  time  they  fired,  killing  three 
and  wounding  one — one  having  been  wounded  in  Captain  Burns'  fire, 
and  one,  by  having  his  horse  shot  under  him,  v, as  thrown  in  a  fence- 
corner  and  taken  prisoner.  The  whole  six  were  thus  killed,  wounded 
or  taken  prisoners.  One  of  the  killed  we  found  to  be  Clay  Ward,  a 
son  of  the  Mr.  Ward  at  whose  house  we  had  halted.  We  here  took 
three  head  of  horses,  which  were  brought  off;  one  escaping,  wounded, 
and  one  being  so  badly  wounded  as  to  be  unfit  for  service,  and  one  being 
killed;  and,  I  presume  five  sabres,  five  Colts  pistols,  and  five  Sharpe's 
carbines,  though  they  were  not  all  reported  to  me.  We  pursued  the 
two  scouts  who  had  halted  at  Harper's,  but  as  the  flanking  party  sent 
out  by  me  had  not  gotten  in  position  on  the  road  towards  the  Burnt 
bridge,  they  escaped  in  the  direction  of  Beverly. 

As  your  artillery  had  not  yet  opened  fire,  I  here  halted,  and  ordered 
back  my  flankers,  and  again  moved  as  directed  by  your  dispatch  dated 
one  o'clock,  P.  M.  Some  delay  was  here  caused  to  our  movements 
on  account  of  the  non  arrival  of  my  scouts  or  flanking  party  from 
above  the  Burnt  bridge,  who  had  not  gotten  in  position  when  my  mes- 
senger arrived  at  the  point  to  which  they  had  been  sent.  I  moved, 
however,  as  nearly  as  I  could  in  the  direction  of  the  Earl  hill,  at 
twenty  minutes  to  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  without  my  guides,  and  the 
road  being  blockaded  above,  I  moved  across  the  country,  keeping  my 
skirmishers  well  out  in  front  and  halting  them  at  intervals.  The 
woods  being  so  dense  they  could  not  see  each  other  but  occasionally, 
we  could  move  but  6lowly,  and  cur  course  was  not  direct,  on  account 
of  the  difficulties  already  mentioned.  Indeed,  I  was  thrown  almost 
entirely  on  my  own  resources,  as  Lieutenant  Wamsley  knew  nothing 
but  the  general  course.  With  the  arrival  of  my  guides,  whom  I  had 
directed  to  come  up,  I  received  a  dispatch  from  you  requesting  me  to 
move  so  as  to  support  Captain  Marshall  if  he  moved  towards  the  Earl 
hill.  I  was  at  that  time  in  no  position  to  see  any  movements  that 
were  making  on  my  left,  and  as  I  had  not  sufficient  cavalry  to  scout 
the  country,  all  I  could  do  was  to  move  so  as  to  gain  a  point  from 
which  1  could  do  as  you  directed.  And  at  about  five  o'clock,  P.  M., 
I  reached  Fontaine  Butcher's  farm,  on  the  hill  immediately  south  of 
Files'  or  Philles'  creek.  Here  I  found  myself  some  half  a  mile  to  the  right 
of  the  Earl  hill,  but  was  enabled  to  get  a  full  view  of  the  position  of  the 
enemy  on  Butcher's  or  Callett's  hill,  northeast  of  Beverley,  where  he 
had  his  artillery  planted.  Here  I  sent  out  scouts  to  find  out  whether 
Captain  Marshall  had  made  the  movement  indicated,  and  also  dis- 
patched to  you.  I  intended  moving  to  the  Earl  hill  after  sunset. 
Why  I  did  not  bring  on  an  action  you  know.  At  half-past  seven 
o'clock,  I  received  your  dispatch  ordering  me  to  take  position  above 
Harper's,  which  I  reached  by  the  Back  road  at  half-past  eleven 
o'clock,  P.  M. 

On  the  morning  of  the  3d  instant,  I  moved,  at  fifteen  minutes  to 
seven  o'clock,  being  compelled  to  delay  longer  than  I  had  intended 
in  order  to  find  the  command.     Aud  at  this  point  I  had  to  leave  about 


16 

thirty  men,  who  were  unable  to  march.  These  I  ordered  up  to  Henry 
Harper's  to  be  u-;ed  in  case  I  should  need  them.  I  moved  forward, 
sending  my  cavalry  ahead  to  scout  the  road,  and  detaching  an  advance 
guard  from  Captain  Downe's  company,  which  I  passed  under  the 
command  of  Lieutenant  Morgan. 

In  this  manner  I  was  enabled  to  reach  the  point  indicated  by  you, 
much  sooner  than  I  could  otherwise  have  done,  and  as  your  order  to 
me  was  imperative,  I  did  not  hesitate  to  move  in  this  manner,  and,  in- 
deed, I  consider  as  it  safe  as  any  I  could  have  adopted  on  such  ground. 

On  reaching  Daniel's  farm,  at  the  top  of  the  hill,  on  this  side  of 
Files'  creek, and  where  there  is  a  road  leading  to  the  Earl  hill,  I  detached 
Captain  Young,  with  his  cavalry,  to  scout  the  roads,  and  ordered  Cap- 
tain Burns  forward  to  reconnoitre  the  position  I  had  occupied  on  the 
previous  evening,  and  moved  my  infantry  forward  in  supporting  dis- 
tance, in  case  he  was  attacked.  On  consultation  with  Lieutenant 
"VVamsley,  (and  you  had  requested  me  to  give  his  opinions  due  con- 
sideration,) I  agreed  to  move  my  infantry  to  nearly  their  old  position, 
■which  I  would  not  have  done  if  I  had  not  taken  his  advice,  but  wculd 
have  placed  them  on  the  right  in  a  wood  land. 

As  you  had  dispatched  to  me  that  you  were  "  about  to  dismount 
Sprigg's  command  and  send  them  in  the  rear  or  flank  of  the  enemy," 
and  added,  "  you  may  come  up  with  him  or  he  with  you,"  I  directed 
scouts  to  be  sent  towards  Earl  hill,  supposing  he  might  come  up  from 
that  point.  As  there  was  but  a  small  skirt  of  woods,  and  part  of  that 
cut  away,  I  deemed  it  safer  to  send  but  the  cavalry  forward,  after- 
wards moving  up  the  infanty,  and  resting  in  place  preparatory  to 
moving  forward  in  line  of  battle,  the  ground  having  been  passed  over 
by  Captain  Burns. 

Your  artillery  had  now  (fifteen  minutes  to'nine  o'clock,  A.  M.) 
nearly  ceased  playing,  and  no  firing  of  small  arms  being  heard,  I 
wrote  a  dispatch  to  Captain  Young,  directing  him  to  scout  fully  the 
road  in  the  direction  of  Earl's  hill.  And  I  was  on  the  point  of  send- 
ing one  to  you  informing  you  where  I  was,  etc.,  I  was  fired  on 
by  the  enemy  in  ambush,  the  first  fire,  a  single  shot,  striking  my  horse. 
I  immediately  ordered  the  men  to  "  fall  in,"  and  on  that  order  being 
given  the  fire  became  general  along  the  enemy's  line,  which  I  then 
discovered  to  be  an  extended  one,  and  at  some  forty  or  fifty  yards 
distant,  except  a  right  flank,  now  left,  as  we  found,  for  action,  faced 
to  the  rear.  This  fire  at  first  produced  some  excitement  along  the 
line,  and  produced  a  little  wavering  which  pervaded  the  action  till 
nearly  its  close.  A  simultaneous  movement  was  immediately  ordered 
of  the  whole  line,  and  the  battalion  now  rushed  forward  with  deafen- 
ing cheers  on  the  position  of  the  enemy  in  our  immediate  front,  giving 
him  a  raking  6re,  which  we  were  enabled  to  do  before  he  could  reload. 
A  few,  however,  had  either  reserved  their  fire,  or  had  gotten  their 
srms  reloaded,  and  gave  us  one  fire,  sharp  and  scattering,  at  which 
time  Lieutenant  William  Harris,  commanding  Captain  Downe's  com- 
pany, fell  mortally  wounded,  while  gallantly  loading  his  company. 
The  men,  with  few  exceptions,  now  pressed  forward,  and  the  route  of 
the  enemy  became  complete.     And  as  he  was  formed  with  a  stout  worm 


17 

fence,  staked  and  ridered,  in  his  rear  and  on  his  left,  and  another  old 
worm  fence,  grown  up  with  undcrbu^h,  on  his  right,  leaving  but  a  sin- 
gle place  for  his  men  to  retreat  through,  so  that  in  their  attempt  to 
retreat  our  men  were  enabled  to  deliver  their  fire  with  such  deadly 
aim  that  fourteen  of  his  killed  and  wounded  were  left  immediately  on 
the  ground.  The  skirmish  now  became  a  running  one,  our  men  fol- 
lowing and  firing,  the  enemy  retreating  and  not    returning  our  fire. 

On  the  right  where  I  now  was,  I  saw  three  of  the  enemy  fall  while 
running  through  an  oat  field,  and  from  the  most  reliable  information 
I  could  get,  and  from  a  report  made  me  by  Lieutenant  Lake,  who 
afterwards  examined  the  field,  some  fourteen  at  least  of  the  enemy 
were  left  in  different  portions  of  the  field,  making  in  all,  from  thirty 
to  thirty-five  of  the  enemy  left  on  the  field,  not  including  those 
wounded  slightly. 

Our  loss  was  trifling  compared  with  theirs,  and  consisted  of  the  fol- 
lowing: Captain  Down's  company,  Lieutenant  Wm.  Harris  command- 
ing: Killed — First  Lieutenant  Wm.  Harris;  wounded — Private 
Richard  Wine,  in  side  slightly  ;  Captain  Bell's  company,  Lieutenant 
Minter  commanding  :  killed — none;  wounded — Privates  Daniel  B. 
May,  in  side  badly,  John  S.  Robertson,  in  arm,  Leonard  Radcliffe,  in 
arm  slightly;  Captain  Campbell's  company:  killed — Private  Alfred 
Owens  ;  wounded — Second  Sergeant  Henry  Smith,  badly  ;  Randolph 
Wamsley,  Captain  Marshall's  company,  guide,  wounded  mortally. 
Killed  three;   wounded  five. 

It  would  afford  me  great  pleasure  to  bear  testimony  to  the  several 
acts  of  gallantry  performed  by  the  several  companies  I  commanded. 
I  must  here  bear  testimony  to  the  good  conduct  of  Lieutenant  Wains- 
ley,  of  Captain  Marshall's  company,  who  advanced  with  the  first 
charge  calling  out,  "  come  on,  don't  let  the  d — d  Yankees  whip  us 
on  our  own  soil;"  to  Lieutenant  J.  G.  Gittings,  my  acting  adjutant, 
who  rendered  me  valuable  assistance  by  bringing  up  the  right  with 
loud  cheering,  and  to  that  of  Randolph  Wamsley,  of  Captain  Mar- 
shall's company,  who  rushed  into  the  fight,  though  acting  only  as  a 
guide,  but  who,  I  am  sorry  to  record,  fell,  mortally  wounded.  After 
falling  back  the  troops,  and  rallying  them  on  the  ground  where  the 
skirmish  took  place,  I  had  the  wounded  cared  for,  and,  communicating 
with  my  cavalry  command,  I  ordered  the  infantry  back  to  a  rise  imme- 
diately in  my  rear,  where  Icould  not  be  flanked,  and  sent  out  a  picket 
to  occupy  the  ground  in  front  of  where  the  skirmish  took  place. 

Here  I  received  your  dispatch  ordering  me  to  fall  back  to  Ward's, 
which  I  immediately  proceeded  to  do,  going  to  the  rear  to  attend  to 
the  wounded,  and  have  the  dead  interred.  The  wounded  I  had  taken 
to  Mr.  W.  Daniel's,  and  made  arrangements  to  have  them  cared  for; 
the  citizens  agreeing  to  have  the  dead  decently  buried.  In  falling 
back  to  Huttonsville,  I  made  arrangements  to  have  all  my  broken 
down  troops  brought  up,  ordering  my  cavalry  to  dismount  in  order  to 
bring  them  up. 

As  you  are  fully  aware  of  the  condition  in  which  I  turned  over  the 
command  to  you,  allow  me  to  subscribe  myself, 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
2  D.  BOSTON  STEWART,  Major,  *c. 


18 

P.  S.  The  enemy's  force,  in  the  skirmish,  on  the  morning  of  the  3d 
instant,  as  stated  by  his  wounded,  amounted  to  over  two  hundred  men. 
Ours  did  not  amount  to  more  than  one  hundred  and  forty  men  in 
infantry,     Our  cavalry  was  not  in  the  action. 

Respectfully,  &c, 

D.  BOSTON  STEWART. 


EVACUATION   OF    LITTLE   ROCK- 


REPORT  OF  MAJOR  GENERAL  PRICE. 


Headquarters  Trice's  Division,  > 
Camp  Bragg,  Nov.  20,  1863.    y 

Lieutenant  Colonel  John  F.  Belton, 

Assistant  Adjutant   General,  District  of  Arkansas  : 

Colonel:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the 
military  operations  which  terminated  on  the  10th  of  September,  in 
the  evacuation  of  Little  Rock  by  the  forces  then  under  my  com- 
mand 

Having  been  notified,  on  the  23rd  of  July,  that  Lieutenant  General 
Holmes  desiied  to  relinquish  his  command  to  me,  during  the  contin- 
uance of  his  severe  illness,  I  left  Des  Arc,  the  then  headquarters  of 
my  division,  the  same  day,  and,  having  reached  Little  Rock  the  next,, 
assumed  command  of  the  district  of  Arkansas. 

Being  satisfied  that  the  enemy  was  about  to  advance  in  heavy 
force  upon  Little  Rock,  I  sent  orders  the  same  day  to  Brigadier 
General  Frost,  commanding  the  defences  of  the  lower  Arkansas,  near 
Pine  Bluff,  to  move  at  once,  with  his  infantry  and  artillery,  to  Little 
Rock. 

Orders  were  also  sent,  on  that  day,  to  Brigadier  General  Fagan„ 
upon  whom  the  command  of  my  division  (Fagan's,  Parson's  and 
McRae's  brigades  of  infantry,)  had  devolved,  directing  him  to  with- 
draw his  forces  from  Searcy  and  Des  Arc  and  to  take  position  upon 
Bayou  Metoe,  about  twelve  miles  northeast  of  Little  Rock.  On  the 
next  day  I  ordered  Brigadier  General  Marmaduke,  commanding  a 
division  of  cavalry,  to  establish  his  headquarters  near  Jacksonport, 
and  to  dispose  his  troops  so  as  to  observe  and  retard  the  movements 
of  the  column  of  Federal  cavalry  which  was  then  advancing  into  north- 
eastern Arkansas  from  Missouri. 


20 

Brigadier  General  Walker,  commanding  a  brigade  of  cavalry,  was, 
on  the  same  day,  ordered  to  remain  with  his  command  in  the  vicinity 
of  Helena,  for  the  purpose  of  watching  the  enemy  in  that  direction 
and  checking  his  advance  from  that  point.  These  were  the  only 
troops  at  my  disposal  for  the  defence  of  Little  Rock,  except  a  very 
weak  regiment,  a  small  battalion,  and  a  few  unattached  companies  of 
cavalry,  'which  I  kept  on  the  south  side  of  the  Arkansas,  picketing  the 
country  from  Little  Rock  to  Napoleon,  and  thence  to  the  boundary  of 
Louisiana.  Brigadier  General  Steele,  commanding  in  the  Indian  ter- 
ritory, was  already  hard  pressed  by  the  enemy,  and  on  the  defensive, 
and  could  not  spare  a  man. 

I  -wrote  to  the  Lieutenant  General  commanding  the  department,  on 
the  27th  of  July,  communicating  these  facts  to  him,  and  stating  that, 
whilst  I  should  attempt  to  defend  Little  Rock,  as  the  capital  of  the 
State  and  the  key  to  the  important  valley  of  the  Arkansas,  I  did  not 
believe  it  would  be  possible  for  me  to  hold  it  with  the  force  under  my 
command. 

About  this  time  I  commenced  the  construction  of  a  line  of  rifle 
pits  and  other  defensive  works  on  the  north  side  of  the  Arkansas,  and 
about  two  and  a  half  miles  in  front  of  Little  Rock,  and  pushed  them 
forward  to  completion  as  rapidly  as  I  could. 

The  continued  advance  of  Davidson's  column  of  Federal  cavalry 
making  it  hazardous  to  retain  Walker's  brigade  any  longer  on  the 
eastern  side  of  White  river,  I  ordered  him,  on  the  2d  of  August,  to 
move  it  to  the  western  side  of  that  stream.  As  soon  as  this  was 
done,  the  enemy  unveiled  his  intention  to  cross  White  river  at  Clar- 
endon, and  I  consequently  moved  Walker's  brigade,  and  Marmaduke's 
division  of  cavalry,  both  under  command  of  Brigadier  General  L.  M. 
Walker,  to  that  vicinity. 

Tappan's  brigade  (which  had  been  detached  from  my  division  sev- 
eral months  before,  and  which  had  been  ordered  back  to  Arkansas  by 
Lieutenant  General  Smith)  having  reached  Little  Rock,  whither  I  had 
ordered  it  to  move  by  rapid  marches,  I  directed  Brigadier  General 
Frost  to  move  his  brigade  to  northern  side  of  the  river,  and  to  assume 
command  of  my  division,  which  comprised  all  the  infantry  near  Little 
Rock,  except  Tappan's  brigade,  which  I  held  in  reserve  on  the  south 
side  of  the  river. 

Seeing  that  the  position  on  Bayou  Metce  could  be  easily  turned,  and 
that  it  was  otherwise  untenable,  I  ordered  General  Frost,  at  the  same 
time,  to  withdraw  his  entire  command  within  the  line  of  defences,  to 
which  I  have  before  referred,  and  upon  which  I  continued  to  labor 
both  night  and  day. 

The  enemy  continued  to  advance.  Meanwhile  my  cavalry,  under 
Generals  Marsh  Walker  and  Marmaduke,  falling  back  before  him, 
but  contesting  stubbornly  every  mile,  until  I  ordered  General  Walker, 
on  the  23d  of  August,  to  take  position  on  Bayou  Metce,  with  the 
whole  of  his  and  Marmaduke's  cavalry,  and  to  hold  it  as  long  as 
possible. 

About  midday,  on  the  27th  of  August,  he  was  attacked  in  this 
position,  by  the  enemy,  in  greatly  superior  force,  and  with  consider- 


21 

able  spirit.  The  engagement  lasted  until  dark.  My  troops,  which 
■were  under  the  immediate  command  of  Brigadier  General  Marma- 
duke,  behaved  admirably,  and  the  enemy  was  repulsed,  with  heavy 
loss. 

General  Walker,  fearing,  from  the  indications  given,  that  the  enemy 
was  about  to  flank  his  position,  withdrew  his  troops  after  dark.  The 
enemy  also  retired  from  the  field,  leaving  his  dead  unburied.  KnowT 
ing  that  if  I  delayed  the  removal  of  the  public  stores  from  Little 
Rock  until  the  eve  of  its  evacuation,  the  greater  part  of  them  would 
be  lost,  in  consequence  of  the  insufficiency  of  transportation,  I  had, 
very  soon  after  assuming  command  of  the  district,  ordered  the  chiefs 
of  the  several  staff  departments  to  send  their  stores  to  Arkadelphia  as 
speedily  as  possible  ;  removing  first  such  as  were  least  likely  to  be 
required  by  the  army.  These  officers  were  zealously  executing  this 
order  when  intelligence  reached  me,  (on  the  23th  of  Augu-t.)  th  it 
the  enemy  was  occupying  Monroe,  Louisiana,  in  force,  and  thereby 
not  only  endangering  the  valuable  stores  at  Cauvlen,  but  menacing 
nay  line  of  retreat.  A  few  days  later,  I  received  a  communication 
from  Brigadier  General  Cabell,  informing  me  that  Brigadier  Geueral 
Steele,  commanding  the  Confederate  forces  in  the  Indian  Territory, 
was  falling  back  towards  Texas,  before  a  superior  force,  and  that  he 
himself  had  been  driven  by  the  enemy  from  Fort  Smith,  and  was  tl^en 
retreating  in  the  direction  of  Caddo  Gap.  These  facts  necessitated 
still  greater  activity  in  the  remcvalof  the  public  stores  from  both 
Camden  and  Little  ltock ;  and  orders  to  that  effect  were  consequently 
given, 

I  continued,  meanwhile,  to  strengthen  the  defences  on  the  north 
side  of  the  river,  and  to  perfect  the  means  of  communication  between 
the  two  banks  of  the  Arkansas,  so  as  to  be  able  to  throw  my  forces 
readily  from  the  one  side  to  the  other,  and  particularly  to  secure  the 
safe  withdrawal  of  my  army  from  the  northern  side  of  the  river,  in 
the  event  of  defeat.  My  troops  were  at  this  time  in  excellent  condi- 
tion, full  of  enthusiasm,  and  eager  to  meet  the  enemy ;  but  I  had 
barely  eight  thousand  men,  of  all  arms,  whilst  the  enemy  had  brought 
against  me  nearly,  or  quite,  twenty  thousand.  My  only  chance  of 
meeting  him  successfully  lay  in  the  possibility  that  he  would  attack 
me  in  my  entrenchments.  I  would  have  given  him  battle  confidently, 
had  he  done  this.  But  I  had  little  hope  that  he  would  do  it,  as  it  was 
comparatively  easy  for  him  to  turn  my  position,  by  crossing  the 
Arkansas  below  Little  Rock.  That  river  was,  at  that  time,  fordable 
in  a  great  many  places  ;  and  I  could  not  guard  it  effectually  without 
weakening  my  force  within  the  the  trenches  to  a  dangerous  extent. 
I  communicated  these  facts,  at  the  time,  to  the  Lieutenant  General 
commanding. 

There  was,  during  the  last  days  of  August  and  the  first  days  of 
September,  constant  skirmishing  between  the  cavalry  advance  of  the 
two  armies,  without  any  marked  change,  however,  in  their  relative 
positions,  except  that  the  enemy  began  to  develop  more  plainly  his 
intention  to  cross  the  Arkansas  below  Little  Rock.  I  therefore  or- 
dered  General  Marsh  Walker,  on  the  31st  of  August,  to  move  his 


22 

headquarters  to  some  point  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  within 
twelve  or  fifteen  miles  of  the  city,  and  to  assume  command  of,  and 
concentrate  in  that  vicinity,  (in  addition  to  his  own  brigade,)  all  the 
cavalry  which  was  south  of  the  Arkansas  and  east  of  Little  Rock.  I 
also  gave  orders,  on  the  9th  of  September,  for  the  construction  of  a 
line  of  defences  on  that  side  of  the  river ;  and  the  work  was  immedi- 
ately begun. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  10th,  the  enemy  appeared  in  heavy 
force  on  the  north  bank  of  the  river,  about  eight  miles  below  Little 
Rock.  Colonel  A.  L.  Dobbins  (upon  whom  the  command  of  Walker's 
division  had  been  devolved,  by  the  unfortunate  death  of  that  lamented 
officer,)  immediately  concentrated  his  whole  disposable  force  (about 
twelve  hundred  men)  to  dispute  his  passage.  He  was,  however,  em- 
barrassed not  only  by  the  fact  that  the  river  was  fordable  in  twelve 
different  places  within  twelve  miles  of  Little  Rock — at  one  of  which 
the  enemy  actually  made  a  strong  feint  of  crossing — but  by  the  addi- 
tional fact  that  the  place  at  which  the  enemy  did  finally  force  the 
passage  was  selected  with  excellent  judgment,  it  being  the  upper  point 
of  a  horse-shoe-like  bend,  upon  the  three  sides  of  which  he  planted 
five  batteries.  These,  after  two  hours'  heavy  cannonading,  silenced 
the  guns  which  Colonel  Dobbins  had  opposed  to  the  enemy's  pas- 
sage, and  drove  them  and  the  supporting  cavalry  from  the  penin- 
sula. 

I  ordered  Tappan's  brigade  to  the  relief  of  Dobbins,  as  soon  as  I 
learned  that  the  enemy  was  seriously  threatening  to  cross  the  river, 
and  immediately  thereafter  ordered  General  Marmaduke  to  move  his 
division  to  the  south  side,  to  assume  command  of  all  the  cavalry,  to 
hold  the  enemy  in  check  until  I  could  withdraw  my  infantry  and 
artillery  from  the  north  side  of  the  river,  and,  when  this  had  been 
accomplished,  to  cover  the  retreat — the  orders  for  which  were  at  once 
given.  The  infantry  began  to  leave  the  entrenchments  at  eleven 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  The  city  was  finally  evacuated  about  five 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The  trains  had  been  sent  to  the  rear  early 
in  the  forenoon. 

The  cavalry,  under  command  of  Brigadier  General  Marmaduke, 
constituted  the  rear  guard.  It  was  skilfully  handled,  and  behaved 
admirably. 

My  infantry,  and  most  of  my  artillery,  reached  Arka'delphia  on  the 
14th  of  September,  without  any  unusual  loss  of  either  men  or  mate- 
rial, and  were  encamped  in  that  vicinity. 

I  disposed  my  cavalry  so  as  to  completely  cover  my  front — General 
Marmaduke  occupying  the  centre,  having  his  headquarters  at  Rock- 
port  ;  Colonel  Dobbins  in  command  of  the  right,  having  his  at  Tulip, 
and  Colonel  Monrce  in  command  of  the  left,  having  his  at  Caddo 
Cap. 

I  respectfully  refer  to  the  reports  of  Brigadier  General  Marmaduke 
and  Colonel  A.  L.  Dobbins,  for  a  detailed  statement  of  the  operations 
of  their  respective  commands.  They  will  be  forwarded  as  soon  as 
they  shall  have  been  received. 


23 

Lieutenant   General  Holmes  resumed  command  of  the  district  of 
Arkansas,  at  Arkadelphia,  on  the  25th  day  of  September. 
I  am,  Colonel,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
•  STERLING  PRICE, 

Major  General. 

Official : 

Thomvs  L.  Skead, 

Major  and  Assistant  Adjutant  General. 


REPORT  OF  COLONEL  DOBBINS. 

Camp  Bragg,  Nov.  19th,  1^3. 
Major  Thomas  L.   Snead,  Assistant  Adjutant  General : 

Major  :  In  obedience  to  your  request,  I  have  the  honor  herewith 
to  submit  a  report  of  the  military  operations  of  my  command  in  front 
of  Little  Rock,  from  the  time  I  assumed  command  of  the  division, 
formerly  commanded  by  Brigadier  General  Walker,  on  the  6th  day  of 
September,  until  the  10th  of  the  same  month.  I  must  here,  however, 
state  that  this  report  will  necessarily  be  general  in  its  terms,  omitting 
details,  as  I  am  now,  and  have  been,  for  the  last  six  weeks,  separated 
from  my  command,  and  I  have  now  no  access  to  the  papers  requisite 
to  make  a  full  report. 

On  the  evening  of  the  6th  of  September,  by  an  order  from  Major 
General  Price,  I  assumed  command  of  Brigadier  General  Walker's 
division,  consisting  of  Dobbins'  brigade,  Arkansas  cavalry,  and  Car- 
ter's brigade,  Texas  cavalry,  to  which  were  also  attached  Johnson's 
spy  company  and  Denson's  company.  At  this  time,  one  regiment  of 
Dobbins'  brigade  was  encamped  on  the  north  side  of  the  Arkansas 
river,  at  Ashley's  mill,  and  the  remainder  were  on  the  south  side  of  the 
river,  near  Buck's  ford.  Carter's  brigade,  except  about  one  hundred 
men,  and  one  section  of  Pratt's  battery,  were  engaged  in  picketing 
from  Buck's  ford,  on  the  Arkansas  river,  to  Gains'  landing,  on  the 
Mississippi  river.  On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  the  enemy  advanced 
on  the  regiment  camped  at  Ashley's  mill,  driving  the  same  back  to 
the  river.  Colonel  Newton,  then  commanding  the  brigade,  was  pres- 
ent in  command.  The  regiment  lost  one  killed,  three  wounded  and 
two  captured,  including  Captain  Cowley,  adjutant  of  the  brigade. 
The  enemy  advanced  in  greatly  superior  force,  and  Colonel  Newton 
crossed  the  river  about  eight  miles  below  Little  Rock,  with  that  por- 
tion of  his  command,  fording  the  same.  This  was  about  ten  o'clock 
in  the  morning.  That  night  the  enemy  camped  at  Ashley's  mill  and 
Terry's  ferry.  From  that  time,  until  the  evening  of  the  9th,  there 
was  continual  skirmishing  between  my  scouts  and  the  enemy,  and, 
also,  constant  firing  across  the  river,  with  no  loss  in  my  command, 
and  with  some  damage  to  the  enemy — they  reporting  to  have  had  three 
killed  at  Terry's  ferry.  On  the  evening  of  the  9th,  the  enemy  moved 
down,  in  considerable  force  of  cavalry  and  artillery,  to  Buck's  ford, 
and  built  up  camp  fires  within  sight  of  the  ford.  About  ten  o'clock 
that  night,  Colonel  Newton  reported  to  rne  that  the  enemy  were 
moving  their  artillery  to  Terry's  ferry  and  were  throwing  out  lumber, 
as  if  they  intended  building  a  bridge  at  that  place.  I  had  previously, 
as  soon  as  I  discovered  them  at  Buck's  ford,  moved  to  that  point  about 
two  hundred  bales  of  cotton,  and  planted  my  artillery  so  as  to  resist 
their  crossing.  I,  at  the  same  time,  reported  to  Major  General  Price, 
commanding  the  district  of  Arkansas,  that  the  enemy  were  in  front 
of  me  in  heavy  force  of  infantry,  cavalry  and  artillery,  reported  by  a 


25 

citizen,  named  Calvin  Pemberton,  (who  had  that  day  seen  Generals 
Steele  and  Davidson,)  to  be  thirty  thousand  strong,  and  that  I  would 
be  unable  to  prevent  their  crossing.  My  command  being  very  much 
scattered,  and  there  being  twelve  fords  between  Little  Rock  and 
Buck's  ford,  a  distance  of  twelve  miles,  on  the  morning  of  the  l<  >th, 
about  three  o'clock,  1  left  my  camp  near  Buck's  ford,  and  rode  up  the 
bank  of  the  river  to  ascertain,  if  possible,  what  movement  the  enemy 
was  making,  the  reports  from  scouts  having  been  very  unsatisfactory 
and  conflicting  "When  about  four  miles  above  Buck's  ford,  and  about 
two  miles  above  Terry's  ferry,  I  discovered  the  enemy  digging  down 
the  bank,  and  making  preparations  to  cross  the  river.  This  was  just 
at  daylight.  The  river  here  made  a  bend  in  the  shape  of  a  horse-shoe, 
the  enemy  being  about  the  centre  of  the  bend.  I  immediately  ordered 
a  section  of  Etter's  battery,  which  had  previously  been  attached  to 
my  command,  to  occupy  the  point  opposite  to  where  the  enemy  was 
engaged  in  cutting  down  the  bank,  and  to  open  fire  on  them,  which 
it  did.  The  enemy  immediately  opened  on  Etter's  battery,  from  five 
batteries  placed  on  the  opposite  bank,  and,  from  the  nature  of  the 
bend  and  the  position  of  the  batteries,  being  planted  on  each  side  of 
the  horse-shoe,  swept  the  entire  point  on  which  Etter's  battery  was 
placed.  At  the  same  time,  the  section  of  Pratt's  battery  was  also 
hotly  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  Buck's  ford,  they  having  made  a 
demonstration  of  crossing  there,  Finding  that  Etter's  battery  was 
unable  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  throwing  a  bridge  across  the  river, 
I  ordered  one  piece  of  Pratt's  battery  to  his  assistance.  It  came  up 
and  opened  on  the  enemy,  but  the  fire  from  the  enemy's  batteries  was 
so  terrifie  that  ttey  were  unable  to  hold  their  position,  and,  after 
being  engaged  about  two  hours,  were  compelled  to  retire,  leaving  one 
piece  of  Etter's  battery,  which  I  had  brought  off  afterwards  by  the 
cavalry,  being  soon  after  the  artillery  was  removed.  The  enemy 
crossed  the  river,  I  think,  at  about  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning.  They 
crossed,  first,  one  regiment  of  cavalry,  followed  immediately  by  the 
infantry  and  cavalry  in  heavy  force.  I  fell  back  to  Bayou  Fourche, 
a  distance  of  about  five  miles,  fighting  all  the  time.  When  within 
about  one  mile  of  the  bayou,  I  ordered  Colonel  Newton,  with  a  por- 
tion of  the  brigade  commanded  by  him,  about  five  hundred  men,  to 
go  back  to  the  bayou  and  form  on  the  bank,  while  I  remained  and  held 
the  enemy  in  check.  This  he  did.  I  had,  as  soon  as  I  found  the 
enemy  would  cross,  ordered  all  the  force  from  Buck's  ford  to  join  me, 
and  had  the  entire  force  with  me,  not  exceeding  twelve  hundred  men, 
at  the  time  the  enemy  crossed  the  river  When  I  reached  Bayou 
Fourche,  about  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  Colonel  Newton  had  his  command 
formed,  ready  to  receive  the  enemy.  Then  I  met  Brigadier  General 
Marmaduke,  with  orders  to  assume  command  of  all  the  cavalry,  and 
I  immediately  turned  over  the  command  to  him.  I  sent  to  Major 
General  Price,  from  time  to  time,  all  the  information  I  could  obtain 
in  regard  to  the  movements  of  the  enemy,  and  kept  him  constantly 
informed  of  all  their  movements.  I  lost,  in  the  entire  action  and 
skirmishing,  about  sixty-five  men  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  in- 
cluding one  major  (Major  S.  Coley  )  killed,  and  one  lieutenant  (Bow- 


M 

ers)  killed ;  one  captain  wounded  and  one  captain  captured.  The 
loss  I  give  from  memory  alone,  and  cannot  now  say  how  many  pri- 
vates were  killed,  and  how  many  wounded. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Yours,  with  high  respect, 

ARCH.  L.  DOBBINS, 

Colonel,  etc. 
Official : 

Thomas  L.  Snead, 

Major  and  A.  A.  General. 


BATTTE  OF  LOOKOUT  MOUNTAIN. 


REPORT  OF  MAJOR  GENERAL  STEVENSON. 


Headquarters  Stevenson's  Division,  ) 
Near  Valton,  January  8,  1864.       ) 

To  General  Samuel  Cooper, 

Adjutant  and  Inspector  General,  C.  S.  A. : 

General  :  Seeing  in  the  Richmond  journals  that  General  Bragg 
has  submitted  his  report  of  the  battle  of  the  24th  and  25th  of  Novem- 
ber to  the  War  Department,  I  take  the  liberty  of  forwarding  direct, 
by  Lieutenant  Patton,  aid-de-camp,  my  report,  with  those  of  my  subor- 
dinate commanders,  of  the  operations  of  the  troops  under  my  com- 
mand at  and  near  Lookout  mountain,  on  the  24th  November,  1863. 
Copies  of  all  of  the  accompanying  papers  have  been  forwarded  to 
General  Bragg  through  the  headquarters  of  the  army  of  Tennessee. 
I  am,  General,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

C.  L.  STEVENSON, 

Major  General. 


Headquarters  Stevenson's  Division,  Hardee's  Corps, 
Army  of  Tennessee,  Near  Dalton,  January  2,  1864. 

Colonel  George  W.  Brent, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General : 

Colonel  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the 
operations  of  the  troops  of  my  command,  west  of  Chattanooga  creek, 
on  the  24th  November,  1863  : 

On  the  12th  of  November,  I  was  directed  to  move  my  division  from 
the  position  near  the  tunnel  of  East  Tennessee  and  Georgia  railroad, 


28 

which  it  had  occupied  since  its  return  from  East  Tennessee,  to  the 
extreme  left  of  our  infantry  lines,  the  top  of  Lookout  mountain, 
reporting  to  Lieutenant  General  Hardee.  On  the  14th  of  November 
the  positions  of  the  troops  of  his  command  were  assigned  by  the  Lieu- 
tenant General:  Walker's  division,  (commanded  by  Brigadier  Gene- 
ral Gist,)  to  occupy  that  portion  of  the  line  which  lay  west  of  the 
Chattanooga  creek  to  the  Chattanooga  road,  at  the  base  of  the  moun- 
tain ;  Cheatham's  division,  (commanded  by  Brigadier  General  Jack- 
son,) that  known  as  the  "  Craven  house  slope,"  extending  from  the 
left  of  Walker's  line  to  Smith's  trail,  on  the  western  side  of  the  moun- 
tain, and  the  defence  of  the  mountain  was  entrusted  to  my  division 
and  a  very  small  and  inadequate  force  of  cavalry.  The  position 
assigned  to  me,  the  table  on  the  top  of  the  mountain,  included  the 
pass  at  "  Johnson's  Crook,"  distant  eighteen  miles.  The  numerous 
pas&es  along  the  western  crest  to  "  ISfickajack  Pass,"  a  distance  of 
about  ten  miles,  were  held  by  infantry,  the  remainder  by  the  small 
force  of  cavalry.  The  defensive  works  on  the  mountain  extended 
across  from  east  to  west,  at  about  two  and-a-half  miles  from  the  point. 
To  guard  this  extended  line,  to  protect  these  numerous  passes,  and  to 
complete  with  the  dispatch,  so  frequently  urged  upon  me  by  the  Gen- 
eral^commanding,  the  line  of  defence,  the  work  upon  which  was 
prosecuted,  agreeably  to  his  orders,  day  and  night,  and  the  necessity 
of  watching,  with  the  utmost  vigilance,  the  movements  of  the  heavy 
force  of  the  enemy  threatening  my  rear  at  Stephens'  Gap  and  "  John- 
son's Crook,"  demanded  and  received  my  constant  and  undivided 
attention.  By  personal  inspection  and  reconnoisance,  I  familiarized 
myself  with  the  character  of  the  line  entrusted  to  me,  but  had  neither 
time  nor  occasion  to  irake  myself  acquainted  with  the  dispositions 
made,  by  the  Lieutenant  General  commanding,  for  the  defence  of  the 
rest  of  the  line,  further  than  such  information  as  I  acquired  by  per- 
sonal observation  in  visiting  and  adjusting  the  posts  of  my  pickets 
and  signal  stations,  at  and  near  the  point  of  the  mountain  from  which 
place,  in  favorable  weather,  both  armies  could  be  plainly  discerned. 

On  the  23d  of  November,  about  one  o'clock,  P.  M.,  my  attention 
was  attracted  by  heavy  firing  in  the  valley  below.  I  immediately 
proceeded  to  the  point  of  the  mountain,  from  which  I  could  plainly 
see  all  the  movements  of  the  enemy.  I  watched  them  closely  until 
dark,  and  then  hurried  off  the  following  dispatch,  by  signal,  both  to 
Lieutenant  General  Hardee  and  direct  to  General  Bragg : 

"  I  observed  closely,  from  the  point,  the  movements  of  the  enemy 
until  dark.  An  object  seemeel  to  be  to  attract  our  attention.  All  the 
troops  in  sight  were  formed  from  centre  to  left.  Those  on  their  right 
moved  to  centre.  The  troops  from  'Raccoon'  were  in  line  in  full 
sight.  If  they  intend  to  attack,  my  opinion  is,  it  will  be  upon  our 
left.     Both  of  their  bridges  are  gone." 

The  movements  of  the  enemy  and  his  demonstrations  against  our 
right  centre  were  such  that  in  my  own  mind,  I  had  not  the  slightest 
doubt  that  his  purpose  was  to  attract  our  attention,  induce  us  to  con- 
centrate on  our  right,  thereby  weakening  our  left,  and  then  render 
the  acquisition  of  Lookout  mountain  practicable  for  him. 


29 

The  manoeuvre  had  the  desired  effect,  for,  during  the  evening, 
Walker's  entire  division  was  removed  from  its  position  to  the  extreme 
right,  and  the  force  west  of  Chattanooga  creek  thereby  diminished 
more  than  one-third.  After  dark,  I  was  informed  by  Lieutenant  Gen- 
eral Hardee  that  he  had  been  ordered  to  the  extreme  right,  and  I  was 
directed  to  assume  command  of  the  troops  west  of  Chattanooga  creek. 
To  fill,  as  far  as  possible,  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  removal  of 
Walker's  division,  Jackson's  brigade,  of  Cheatham's  division,  was  re- 
moved from  the  "  Craven  house  slope,"  and  Cumming's  brigade,  of 
my  own  division,  from  the  top  of  the  mountain — General  Gumming, 
as  the  senion  officer  present,  being  placed  in  command  of  the  two 
brigades.  I  was  advised  by  the  Lieutenant  General  commanding  to 
transfer  my  headquarters  to  the  Craven  house,  and  subsequently  to 
the  camp  just  vacated  by  him. 

Having  thus,  without  the  slightest  premonition — not  only  a  large 
portion  of  the  troops,  but  even  the  permanent  commander  having  been 
removed — been  placed  in  command,  at  night,  at  a  most  critical  period, 
over  a  wing  of  the  army  with  whose  position  and  disposition,  as  I 
have  already  stated,  I  had  enjoyed  no  opportunity  of  making  myself 
acquainted,  I  at  once  used  every  exertion  to  gain  the  necessary  in- 
formation, by  sending  every  officer  of  my  staff,  and  devoting  the  whole 
night  myself,  to  riding  over  and  examining  the  linos.  I  found  the 
position,  at  which  General  Hardee  advised  me  to  establish  my  head- 
quarters, to  be  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Chattanooga  creek,  some 
distance  beyond  the  extreme  right  of  my  line,  and  at  least  two  and  a 
half  miles  from  the  bace  of  the  mountain  The  distance,  and  the  fact 
that  the  situation  was  most  unfavorable  for  personal  observation,  de- 
termined me  to  return  to  the  mountain,  which  afforded  this  advantago 
in  the  highest  degree,  and  I  accordingly  addressed  you  the  appended 
communication  [A]  On  my  way  back,  I  examined  the  whole  line,  and, 
at  sunrise,  reached  the  Craven  house.  I  found  the  troops  in  position, 
as  assigned  by  Lieutenant  General  Hardee.  Moore's  brigade  was 
bivouacked  along  the  eastern  side  of  the  mountain,  near  the  Craven 
house,  ready  to  move  at  a  moments  notice  to  any  point  to  which  it 
should  be  ordered.  I  then  provided,  as  well  as  the  means  at  my  dis- 
posal permitted,  either  for  an  attack  upon  Cumming  or  Jackson. 

Immediately  upon  my  arrival  on  the  mountain,  I  directed  the  look- 
outs at  the  point  to  keep  a  close  watch,  and  advise  me  of  any  move- 
ments the  enemy  might  make. 

About  ten  o'clock,  A.  M.,  I  received  from  Brigader  General  Jack- 
son the  communication  [B]  written  him  by  General  Walthall,  and  soon 
afterwards  was  informed,  by  the  men  at  the  point,  that  there  was  somo 
picket  firing  on  Lookout  creek,  I  immediately  rode  to  the  point  to  see 
what  was  going  on.  The  enemy  had,  by  felling  trees,  constructed 
three  temporary  bridges  over  the  creek,  and  in  a  short  time,  forced  a 
passage. 

The  troops  as  they  crossed  formed  to  cover  tho  passage  of  the  re- 
mainder. I  immediately  sent  a  staff  officer  of  General  Hardee's, 
(Major  W.  D.  Pickett,)  who  happened  to  be  with  me,  to  General  Jack- 
son, to  inform  him  of  what  I  had  seen,  and  to  direct  him  at  once  to 


so 

place  all  of  his  troops  in  position.  He  reached  General  Jackson,  I 
suppose,  a  little  after  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.  I  caused  the  picket  at 
Smith's  trail  to  be  largely  increased,  and  a  strong  force  to  be  posted 
as  sharpshooters  along  the  crest  of  the  mountain.  The  artillery,  with 
trails  raised,  opened  with  spirit  and  effect,  and  was  used  until  the 
enemy  advanced  so  close  under  the  cliff  that  the  guns  could  not  be 
sufficiently  depressed  for  the  shots  to  take  effect. 

General  Walthall's  pickets  and  skirmishers  extended  from  the  turn- 
pike bridge  of  Lookout  creek  to  the  railroad  bridge,  and  thence,  mak- 
ing nearly  a  right  angle,  across  the  northwest  slope  of  the  mountain  to  a 
point  near  Smith's  trail.  The  enemy,  as  Walthall  mentions  in  his 
report,  had  threatened  to  force  a  passage  of  the  creek  on  his  right, 
but  their  real  movement  was  upon  the  left.  A  large  force  had  moved 
up  the  creek,  under  cover  of  the  fog,  crossed  above,  and  passing  along 
the  western  slope,  attacked  him  successfully  in  flank  and  rear. 

Their  advance  on  the  flank  and  from  the  front,  was  gallantly  con- 
tested, but  though  their  front  line  sometimes  wavered,  they  pressed 
on,  Walthall  falling  back  to  the  line  which  I  have  before  mentioned, 
but  with  very  heavy  loss  in  prisoners,  owing  to  the  enemy's  taking 
him  in  flank  and  rear. 

Finding  that  the  fog  was  becoming  so  dense  that  the  troops  on  the 
northern  point  of  the  mountain  could  not  see  the  enemy  moving 
upon  Walthall,  I  gave  orders  for  Pettus,  with  my  only  disposable 
force,  to  move  down  and  report  to  Brigadier  General  Jackson.  He 
started  at  half-past  twelve  o'clock,  and  reached  the  scene  of  action  a 
little  past  one  o'clock,  relieving  Walthall  on  the  left  of  Moore's  line. 
This  position  was  held  by  Moore,  Walthall  and  Pettus,  until  about 
eight  o'clock,  P.  M.,  when  Walthall's  and  part  of  Pettus'  command 
were  relieved  by  Clayton's  brigade,  commanded  by  Colonel  Holtz- 
claw,  which  was  sent  to  cover  the  movement  to  the  right.  Moore 
and  Holtzclaw  retired  from  the  position  about  two  o'clock,  A.  M.,  on 
the  25th.  Brown,  finding  that  the  enemy  could  not  be  seen  for  the 
fog,  deployed  his  sharpshooters  down  the  sides  of  the  mountain,  who 
were  guided  in  firing  by  the  reports  of  the  enemy's  musketry  ;  at 
the  same  time  the  men  stationed  along  the  creek  rolled  down  rocks  in 
the  direction  of  the  Craven  house.  This,  with  the  shells  from  the 
Napoleon  guns,  doubtless  contributed  not  a  little  to  checking  the 
advance  of  the  enemy,  for  soon  thereafter  his  firing  materially 
abated.  Early  in  the  day,  the  appended  communication  [C]  was 
received  from  General  Bragg.  A  perusal  of  it  will  show  how  highly 
important  he,  on  that  day,  considered  my  making  such  dispositions 
as  would  effectually  prevent  a  severance  of  the  troops  which  I 
commanded  from  the  main  body  of  the  army.  About  the  time  the 
attack  was  made  on  Walthall,  the  enemy  massed  a  considerable  force 
upon  the  Chattanooga  road,  in  front  of  Cumming's  line,  evidently  for 
the  purpose  of  co-operating  with,  and  making  a  diversion  in  favor  of, 
their  assaulting  column.  The  number  of  his  troops  massed  for  this 
purpose,  who  had  been  in  plain  sight  until  the  view  was  obscured  by 
the  mist,  the  serious  weakness  of  Cumming's  force,  there  not  being  a 
man  for  yards  upon  some  parts  of  the  line,  and  the  certainty,  that  to 


31 

reinforce  the  command  near  the  Craven  house  from  Cumming,  was 
to  give  the  enemy  an  opportunity  to  cut  us  off  from  the  main  body, 
without  even  a  show  of  resistance,  rendered  it  highly  improper  to 
withdraw  a  man  from  him.  I  have  already  stated  that  he  had 
but  two  brigades  to  hold  the  line  from  the  Chattanooga  creek  to  the 
Chattanooga  road,  at  the  base  of  the  mountain.  The  force,  early  that 
morning  at  the  Craven  house  slope,  had  consisted  of  two  brigades — 
Moore's  and  Walthall's — and  was  now  reinforced  by  the  larger  part 
of  a  third,  (Pettus',)  while  in  the  mountain  top  there  was  but  one 
small  brigade  and  two  regiments  of  another,  the  larger  portion  being 
between  the  point  and  the  works,  the  other  picketing  and  holding  a 
line  of  about  ten  miles. 

Of  my  six  brigades,  it  will  be  perceived,  from  the  foregoing  accounts, 
that  four  were  engaged,  while  the  remaining  two  were  threatened  by 
a  force  which,  had  it  advanced,  could  soon  have  driven  them  from 
their  position  and  immediately  cut  ua  off  from  the  army  east  of  the 
creek,  a  position  which  I  had  been  instructed  to  hold,  even  at  the 
expense  of  the  mountain.  I  had  been  directed  by  General  Bragg,  if 
I  needed  reinforcements,  to  call  for  them,  [see  letter  C,]  and  as  soon  as 
I  saw  that  the  enemy  were  attacking  and  would  carry  the  point,  I  availed 
myself  of  the  order,  and  called  both  upon  Generals  Breckinridge  and 
Bragg  for  them,  by  a  staff  officer.  I  instructed  him  to  say  to  them 
that,  if  they  would  send  me  reinforcements,  I  would,  when  the  fog 
rose,  attack  the  enemy  in  flank  by  sharpshooters  in  the  mountain 
crest,  and,  descending  Smith's  trail,  take  him  in  rear,  and,  I  doubted 
not,  drive  him  from  the  slope.  This  statement  I  repeated  by  three 
other  staff  officers,  sent  at  intervals  of  half  an  hour.  After  waiting  for 
some  time  for  an  answer,  I  received  a  verbal  order  from  General  Bragg 
to  the  effect  that  no  reinforcements  could  be  sent  me ;  that  I  must 
withdraw  as  best  I  could  under  cover  of  the  fog,  and  that  a  brigade 
would  be  sent  to  the  base  of  the  mountain  to  cover  the  withdrawal. 
Subsequently  I  received  the  following  note  : 

"  TWO  AND  A  HALF  O'CLOCK,  P.  M. 

"  The  General  commanding,  instructs  me  to  say  that  you  will 
withdraw  your  command  from  the  mountain  to  this  side  of  Chatta- 
nooga creek,  destroying  the  bridges  behind.  Fight  the  enemy  as  you 
retire.  The  thickness  of  the  fog  will  enable  you  to  retire,  it  is 
hoped,  without  much  difficulty." 

About  five  hours  after  the  date  of  this  order,  I  received  a  note  from 
Major  General  Breckinridge,  then  my  corps  commander,  informing 
me  that  he  had  arrived  at  the  base  of  the  mountain,  with  a  brigade, 
(Clayton's,)  to  be  used  in  the  retirement,  and  generously  offering  to 
confer  with  me,  and  render  me  any  assistance  in  his  power  in  the 
withdrawal  of  the  troops.  This  brigade,  as  has  been  heretofore  stated, 
relieved  Walthall's  and  part  of  Pettus'  command,  about  eight  o'clock, 
P.  M.,  and  was  the  only  force  sent  to  me  on  that  day.  I  was  engaged 
in  issuing  the  necessary  orders  for  the  retirement  of  the  troops  when 
Major  General  Cheatham  arrived.  He  informed  me  that  he  had 
come  to  consult  with  me,  but  not  to  assume  command. 


32 

I  sent  the  troops  from  the  top  of  the  mountain  down,  and  then  pro- 
ceeded myself  to  a  point  near  its  base,  where  General  Cheatham 
and  myself  had  appointed  to  meet.  Here,  as  senior  officer,  he  as- 
sumed command,  and  1  then  gave  no  further  directions  with  regard  to 
the  retirement  of  the  troops,  except  such  as  1  received  from  him  for 
thoso  of  my  own  division.  Here  we  met  also  Major  General  Breck- 
inridge, who,  when  Major  General  Cheatham  took  command,  returned 
to  Bis  corps.  Brown  was  directed  at  once  to  cross  Chattanooga 
creek — about  eleven  o'clock,  P.  M. — commencing  at  one  o'clock  ;  and 
Cheatham's  division,  with  which  was. (then)  serving  Pettus'  brigade, 
of  my  own  division  afterwards — all  with  directions  to  await  further 
orders  on  the  eastern  side.  General  Cheatham  then  left  me,  as  I 
understood,  to  get  further  orders  from  General  Bragg.  Except  for 
about  one  hour — from  about  half-past  ten  to  half-past  eleven,  A  M. — 
the  mountain  was  enveloped  in  fog  during  the  day. 

About  twelve  o'clock,  M.,  two  staif  officers  of  General  Bragg  rode 
up  to  where  I  was,  (General  Cumming's  quarters,)  and,  stating  that 
they  could  not  find  General  Cheatham,  han ied  me  orders  to  him  from 
General  Bragg,  to  send  all  the  troops  that  had  been  west  of  Chatta- 
nooga creek  to  the  extreme  right.  This  order  was  immediately  given, 
and  was  executed  as  quickly  as  possible.  The  conduct  of  the  troops 
was  all  that  could  have  been  desired,  and  they  accomplished  all  that 
could  have  been  expected  of  them. 

The  withdrawal  of  Walker's  division,  on  the  night  of  the  23d,  in 
my  opinion,  rendered  the  position  on  the  left — opposed  by  so  large  a 
force — untenable,  and  it  was  beyond  the  power  of  the  troops  then  to 
do  more  than  secure  the  communication  with  the  top  of  the  mountain, 
and  with  the  main  body  of  the  army,  until  General  Bragg  could  decide 
whether  he  would  reinforce  them  sufficiently  to  hold  the  line  or  aban- 
don it.  This  decision  I  have  already  given.  The  mountain  was  held 
until  two  o'clock  the  next  morning,  and  the  troops,  artillery  and  trains 
were  withdrawn  in  order  to  the  eastern  side  of  the  creek. 

As  Brigadier  General  Jackson  is  mentioned,  in  the  reports  of  sub- 
ordinate commanders,  as  having  been  absent  from  his  headquarters 
with  me,  it  is  due  to  him  to  state  that,  having  checked  the  enemy  in 
rear  of  the  Craven  house,  and  finding  that  they  had  massed  a  consid- 
erable force  on  the  Chattanooga  road,  apparently  with  the  intention 
of  advancing  from  that  direction — it  being  important  that  he  should 
have  definite  orders  in  case  they  should  make  a  successful  attack  upon 
the  troops  on  that  part  of  the  line,  and  thus  cut  us  off  from  the  mam 
body  of  the  army — to  provide  against  any  accident  in  transmission  of 
such  orders,  he  came  to  me  to  receive  them  in  person.  I  approved  of 
his  course,  under  the  circumstances.  As  his  conduct,  at  the  battle  of 
Missionary  Ridge,  when  not  under  my  command,  has  been  alluded  to 
in  one  of  the  accompanying  reports,  I  append,  at  his  request,  to  be 
read  with  said  report,  a  communication  [D]  addressed  him  on  the  sub- 
ject by  his  commanding  officer,  Major  General  Cheatham. 

I  take  pleasure  in  expressing  my  indebtedness  to  Major  W.  D.  Pick- 
ett, of  Lieutenant  General  Hardee's  staff,  and  my  renewed  obligations 
to  Majors  John  J.  Reeve,  George  L.  Gillespie,  J.  H.  F.  Mayo,  H.  M. 


S3 

Matthews,  H.  Webb,  J.  E.  McElrath,  and  Chief  Surgeon  H.   M. 
Compton,  of  my  staff. 

For  the  particular  service  rendered  by  the  several  rogioaents,  I  re- 
spectfully ask  attention  to  the  reports  of  brigade  commanders.  I 
transmit  herewith  maps  of  the  lines  west  of  Chattanooga  creek. 

Delay  in   the  reports  of  subordinate  commanders,  and  my  illness, 
have  prevented  me  from  forwarding  this  report  sooner. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

C.  L.  STEVENSON, 

Major  General. 


[A.] 

Headquarters  Forces  west  of  Chattanooga  Creek,  ) 
Hardee's  Headquarters,  Novembtr  24,  1863.       \ 

To  Colonel  G.  W.  Brent, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General,  Army  of  Tennessee: 

Colonel  :  Agreeably  to  a  suggestion  in  a  letter  from  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Roy,  General  Hardee's  assistant  adjutant  general,  I  came  to 
this  place  to-night  to  establish  my  headquarters,  but  I  find  that  I  am 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  creek,  and  some  distanco  from  the  extreme 
right  of  my  line. 

I  will  return  quickly  to  the  mountain,  which  is  more  central,  from 
which  I  can  overlook  my  whole  command,   communicate,   by  signal, 
from  my  entreme  left  to  right,  and  by  couriers,  in  case  of  fog,  from 
stations  which  I  have  established  at  the  base  of  the  mountain. 
I  am,  Colonel,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

C.  L.  STEVENSON, 
Major  General  commanding. 


[B-] 


Headquarters  Walthall's  Brigade, 
Craven  House,  Nov.  24,  1863,  8  o'clock,  A.  M 


.! 


Major  :  It  ia  foggy  this  morning,  and  nothing  can  be  distinctly 
seen,  but  I  feel  sure  the  enemy's  pontoons  have  both  disappeared,  and 
most  of  the  tents  in  Chattanooga  have  been  removed.  Troops  are 
moving  rapidly  to  the  left,  in  what  numbers  it  is  difficult  to  estimate. 
The  lines  of  the  enemy,  in  front  of  their  works,  visible  on  ye9torday, 
are  still  to  be  seen.  They  seem  to  have  bivouacked  there.  A  steam- 
boat is  busy  in  the  river  beyond  the  town  from  here. 
3 


34 

The  fog  has  thickened  so  -within  the  last  thirty  minutes  that  I  can 
see  nothing. 

Xery  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

E.  C.  WALTHALL, 

Brigadier  Central. 

Respectfully  forwarded  to  Major  General  Stevenson.     The  original 
has  been  sent  direct  to  army  headquarters. 

JOHN  K.  JACKSON, 
Brigadier  General  commanding  Cheatham's  Division. 

A  true  copy: 

C.  L.  Stevenson, 

Major  General. 


[0.] 

Headquarters  Army  of  Tennessee,         ) 
Missionary  Ridge,  November  24,  1863.  5 

Major  General  Stevenson, 

Commanding  Division  : 

General:  The  General  commanding  directs  me  to  say  that  you  are 
charged  with  the  defence,  on  the  left  of  Chattanooga  creek.  If  the 
enemy  attempt  to  cross  the  creek  you  must  defend  obstinately,  calling 
on  the  forces  to  your  left  and  also  on  Breckinridge  on  your  right  for 
assistance.  Should  you  be  compelled  to  yield,  the  force  on  the  moun- 
tain and  at  "  Craven  house"  must  be  withdrawn  in  time  to  save  them 
from  being  cut  off.  In  a  last  resort,  the  "  Craven  house"  command 
could  pass  on  the  old  road  leading  up  the  mountain,  and  form  a  junc- 
tion with  the  force  coming  down ;  or,  in  case  of  extreme  necessity, 
they  could  move  south  on  the  mountain,  but  this  is  only  an  extreme 
case. 

Report  fully  and  frequently  by  letter  and  signal  all  the  movements 
in  our  front. 

I  am,  General,  very  respectfully, 

K.  FALCONER, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

A  true  copy : 

C.  L.  Steyenson, 

Major  General. 


Headquarters  Cheatham's  Division, 
January  3,  1864. 

General  John  K.  Jackson  : 

Sir  :  Your  note  of  31st  December  is  before  me.     In  it  you  say: 
"  As  my  (your)  report  of  the  battle  of  Lookout  mountain  will  not 


35 

pass  through  you,  I  will  be  greatly  obliged  to  you  for  your  opiuion  of 
my  conduct  on  Missionary  Ridge,  on  25th  November  last,  with  lib- 
erty to  use  it  officially  or  otherwise,  as  I  may  see  proper." 

In  reply,  I  have  to  say  that  I  saw  nothing  wrong  in  your  conduct 
on  Missionary  Ridge,  on  the  2.5th  November  last.  You  were  always 
present  to  receive  and  obey  my  orders,  as  far  as  could  be  done,  amidst 
the  confusion  of  the  day.  I  left  yourself  and  General  Walthall  with 
orders  to  hold  the  position  then  occupied  for  thirty  minutes,  and  then 
to  follow  on  to  Chickamauga.  All  of  which  was  promptly  complied 
with. 

Yours,  very  respectfully, 

B.  F.  CHEATHAM, 
Major  General,  C.  S.  A. 

A  true  copy : 

C.  L.  Stevenson, 

Major  General. 


REPORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  WALTHALL. 

Atlanta,  Ga.,  Dec.  13,  1863. ~ 

Major  James  D.  Porter, 

A.  A.  A.  G.}  Cheatham's  Division  : 

Major  :  I  hare  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the 
part  taken  by  my  command  in  the  affair  on  Lookout  mountain,  on  24th 
November,  1863 : 

About  dark,  on  the  evening  of  the  23rd,  I  received  orders  from  the 
Brigadier  General  commanding  to  hold  my  command  in  readiness  to 
move  at  a  day's  notice,  and  later  in  the  night,  to  hare  three  days* 
rations  prepared  ;  but,  in  view  of  the  movements  of  the  enemy  on  the 
previous  day,  my  command,  which  occupied  a  position  on  the  west 
Bide  of  Lookout  mountain  and  near  the  northern  slope,  was  ordered 
to  stand  "  to  arms  "  before  daylight  on  the  24th  November.  My 
picket  line  which  extended  along  Lookout  creek  from  the  turnpike 
bridge  near  its  mouth,  to  the  railroad  bridge  across  it,  and  thence  up 
the  mountain  side  to  the  cliff,  was  strengthened  by  increasing  its  re- 
serves early  in  the  morning,  troops  having  been  observed  moving 
raj  idly  up  the  creek.  The  fog  at  that  time  being  very  dense,  it  was 
impossible  to  estimate  the  number  of  the  troops  in  motion,  and  this 
fact  (as  well  as  what  seemed  to  be  the  state  of  things  in  Chattanooga 
and  on  the  river,)  was  reported  to  the  Brigadier  General  commanding. 
Shortly  thereafter,  the  fog  having  been  partially  dissipated  in  the 
valley,  (though  it  still  obscured  the  crest  of  the  mountain  above,) 
with  Brigadier  General  Moore,  the  ranking  officer  at  hand,  I  observed 
the  movements  of  the  enemy  across  Lookout  creek,  from  a  point  near 
the  right  of  my  command,  and  saw  a  brigade  take  position  in  front  of 
that  part  of  my  picket  line  between  the  two  bridges,  of  which  one 
regiment  was  thrown  forward,  and  soon  the  pickets  were  engaged. 
Brigadier  General  Moore  returned  to  his  command,  it  being  agreed 
between  us  that  he  would  notify  the  Brigadier  General  commanding 
of  what  had  been  observed.  Rude  breastworks  of  logs  and  stones  had 
been  constructed  on  the  mountain  side  by  the  command  which  had  oc- 
cupied the  ground  before  me,  running  parellel  to  the  mountain  and  the 
creek,  and  along  these  my  command,  except  the  thirty-fourth  Missis- 
sippi regiment,  with  which  the  picket  reserves  had  been  strengthened, 
was  formed,  awaiting  the  development  of  th  eneemy's  purpose  ;  it  being 
uncertain  whether  he  would  pass  across  the  creek  on  the  right,  as  the 
movements  discovered  would  seem  to  indicate,  or  would  approach 
from  the  left  of  the  picket  line  with  the  troops  which  had  already 
moved  in  that  direction 

Soon  after  the  firing  commenced  across  the  creek,  two  batteries  which 
had  previously  been  erected  on  the  ridge  beyond  Lookout  creek,  (of 
whioh,  in  conversation  with  the  Brigadier  General  commanding,  I  had 
more  than  once  made  mention,)  opened  upon  my  main  line,  less  than 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  distant;  and  while  these  batteries  were  shell- 


37 

ing,  two  pieces  of  Artillery  were  planted  at  a  point  between  the  creek 
and  the  river,  which,  though  across  the  creek  from  my  picket  line, 
was  yet,  by  reason  of  the  course  of  the  stream,  in  rear  of  much  of 
that  part  of  the  line  which  took  the  direction  of  the  creek.  Major 
Johnson,  commanding  thirtieth,  and  Colonel  Brantley,  commanding 
twenty- ninth  Mississippi  regiments,  occupying  positions  nearest  to  it, 
had  been  instructed  to  support  that  part  of  the  picket  line  which  ex- 
tended up  the  mountain  side  from  the  railroad  and  bridge,  should  the 
enemy  approach  from  that  direction  ;  and  the  other  regiments,  twenty- 
seventh  Mississippi,  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Jones,  and  twenty- 
fourth  Mississippi,  under  Colonel  Dowd,  were  held  ready  to  move  to 
the  right  or  left  as  occasion  might  require. 

While  writing  a  communication  to  inform  the  Brigadier  General 
commanding  of  the  position  of  the  pieces  in  the  angle  of  the  creek, 
(with  the  suggestion  that  a  single  piece  in  a  position  which  had  been 
prepared  for  artillery,  could  silence  them,  and  that  this  done,  I  thought 
I  could  hold  the  force  in  check,)  I  received  information,  through  scouts 
sent  out  up  the  creek,  to  observe  the  movements  of  the  enemy;  that 
a  force  had  crossed  the  creek  above  the  anglo  in  the  picket  line.  I 
added  this  to  the  communication  and  sent  it  to  the  Brigadier  General 
commanding  by  one  of  his  staff  officers.  In  the  meantime,  Brigadier 
General  Moore  had  applied  to  me  to  know  the  position  of  my  line,  as 
he  was  ordered  to  form  on  my  right,  and  I  learned  from  a  staff  officer 
of  the  Brigadier  General  commanding  that  such  would  be  General 
Moore's  position.  I  informed  both  where  my  line  then  was,  and  Cap- 
tain Moreno,  of  the  staff  of  the  Brigadier  General  commanding,  went 
with  me,  at  my  request,  and  looked  at  my  position,  but  that  the  direc- 
tion which  would  ultimately  be  given  my  line  would  necessarily 
depend  upon  the  direction  from  which  the  enemy,  then  engaging  my 
pickets  on  the  right  and  threatening  my  left,  almost  at  right  angles 
to  the  part  engaged,  might  make  his  main  attack.  Meanwhile  the 
firing  from  the  batteries  beyond  the  creek,  which  before  had  been 
irregular,  became  constant  and  heavy,  and  soon  the  enemy  advanced 
on  the  left,  in  three  lines  running  across  the  mountain  side.  Such 
resistance  as  I  could  offer  a  force  like  this,  (consisting,  as  the  Federal 
General  Thomas,  in  an  official  dispatch  to  his  Government,  says,  of 
Geary's  division  and  two  brigades  of  another  corps,)  was  made  with 
my  email  command,  nearly  one-third  of  which  was  covering  a  picket 
line  more  than  a  mile  in  extent.  While  the  twenty-ninth  and  thir- 
tieth Missisippi  regiments,  in  support  of  the  picket  line,  were  resist- 
ing the  enemy  in  the  position  assigned  them,  (to  cover  which,  it  had 
been  necessary  to  take  intervals,)  and  when  the  immense  numbers  of 
the  enemy  had  been  discovered,  the  twenty- seventh  and  part  of  the 
twenty-fourth  Mississippi  regiments  were  put  in  position  several  hun- 
dred yards  in  rear  of  the  picket  line,  where,  being  sheltered  from  the 
enemy's  small  arms,  and  reserving  their  fire  till  the  regiments  and 
pickets  in  front  had  passed  behind  them  in  falling  back,  they  delivered 
a  destructive  fire  upon  the  advancing  lines.  The  front  line  wavered 
and  then  was  broken  at  one  point,  but  after  failing  back  a  short  dis- 
tance, it  soon  reformed,  and,  despite  my  rapid  and  well-directed  fire, 


S8 

moved  steadily  and  irresistibly  forward,  pressing  heaviest  upon  my 
extreme  left.  I  endeavored,  in  falling  back,  to  turn  the  rocks  and 
irregularities  of  the  ground  to  the  best  account  for  the  protection  of 
the  men,  and  retiring  from  one  position  of  strength  to  another,  to 
yield  the  ground  as  slowly  as  possible,  with  the  hope  that  support 
(for  which  I  had  sent  to  General  Moore)  might  reach  me.  Many  offi- 
cers and  men  were  captured  because  they  held  their  positions  so  long 
as  to  render  escape  impossible,  the  ground  in  their  rear  being  rocky, 
rugged,  and  covered  with  fallen  timber.  My  command  being  greatly 
sheltered,  were  enabled  to  inflict  upon  the  enemy,  as  he  advanced, 
a  loss  far  greater  than  it  sustained. 

By  twelve  o'clock,  M.,  or  about  that  time,  and  two  and  a  half  or 
three  hours  after  the  first  picket  firing  began,  I  was  driven  to  the 
ridge  which  runs  down  the  northern  slope  of  the  mountain,  where, 
with  three  companies  of  sharpshooters  from  the  twenty-fourth  Mis- 
sissippi regiment,  which  had  previously  been  posted  there,  (and  after- 
wards strengthened  by  another  from  the  same  regiment,)  I  made  an 
effort  to  retard  the  enemy's  progress,  till  the  remainder  of  my  com- 
mand, including  the  pickets  on  the  right,  then  in  charge  of  Colonel 
J.  A.  Campbell,  twenty-seventh  Mississippi  regiment,  could  pass 
across  the  northern  slope  of  the  mountain.  The  slope  was  commanded 
by  the  casemated  batteries  on  Moccasin  point,  from  which  my  com- 
mand was  constantly  shelled,  from  the  time  the  slope  was  reached  till 
they  had  passed  across  it.  This  passage  was  effected,  in  part,  by 
means  of  a  rifle  pit,  designed  for  the  double  purpose  of  a  covered 
way  and  defence  against  an  attack  from  a  northern  direction,  which 
runs  across  that  part  of  the  slope  west  of  Craven's  house ;  the  sharp- 
shooters on  the  ridge,  meanwhile,  resisting  the  .enemy's  advance  as 
far  as  they  were  able,  being  themselves  subjected  to  a  heavy  fire  from 
the  Moccasin  guns.  After  passing  Craven's  house,  between  half  past 
twelve  and  one  o'clock,  P.  M.,  or  about  that  time,  I  dispatched  a  staff 
officer  to  the  Brigadier  General  commanding,  to  advise  him  of  my 
movements.  Most  of  my  picket  line,  to  the  right  of  the  railroad 
bridge,  (which  had  been  forced  back  upon  the  reserves,  in  the  rifle  pits 
at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  and  then  were  unable  to  check  the  force 
•opposing  them,)  were  cut  off,  including  the  efficient  officer  in  charge 
of  it,  an  ineffectual  effort  having  been  made,  as  soon  as  the  enemy  be- 
gan to  overwhelm  me  on  the  left,  to  retire  it  up  the  steep  mountain 
side,  before  the  advancing  lines,  sweeping  along  the  west  side  of  the 
mountain,  could  occupy  the  elope  near  Craven's  house.  The  only 
pathway  leading  from  the  right  of  the  position  held  by  the  picket  line 
to  Craven's  house,  ran  up  the  creek  to  a  point  near  the  railroad 
bridge,  and  then  obliquely  (in  its  general  direction)  across  the  side  of 
the  mountain  to  the  northern  slope,  forming  an  acute  angle  near  the 
abridge.  When  the  left  was  forced  back,  this  angle  was  possessed  by 
•the  enemy,  and  then  the  picket  force  on  the  right  had  to  be  withdrawn 
up  a  rugged  steep,  broken  and  rocky,  and  difficult  of  passage  even 
for  a  footman  at  leisure.  The  character  of  the  ground  making  it  im- 
possible to  communicate  through  mounted  men  with  different  parts  of 
the  line ;  the  overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy ;  the  advantageous  posi- 


S9 

tiona  of  his  batteries  beyond  tbe  creek ;  the  extent  and  direction  of 
my  picket  line,  and  tbe  fact  that  my  only  outlet,  when  forced  to  re- 
tire, was  across  a  point  commanded  by  the  Moccasin  guns,  all  oper- 
ated to  produce  confusion  in  the  withdrawal  of  my  command  to  a 
point  on  the  east  side  of  the  mountain,  without  the  direct  range  of 
these  guns.  The  point  selected  was  about  four  hundred  yards  from 
Craven's  house,  where  my  line  extended  from  the  road  up  to  the  cliff. 

About, one  o'clock,  P.  M.,  I  checked  the  enemy's  advance,  which 
was  heaviest  on  my  left,  and  was  soon  informed  that  reinforcements 
would  be  sent  me,  by  a  staff  oflicer  of  the  Brigadier  General  com- 
manding. In  the  course  of  half  an  hour,  or  three  quarters  of  an 
hour,  Brigadier  General  Fettus  came  up,  with  his  command,  in  fine 
order,  and  moved  promptly  upon  the  line  I  occupied,  engaging  the 
enemy  at  once,  and  with  spirit,  and  enabling  me  to  withdraw  my 
command  and  replenish  my  ammunition  (then  well-nigh  exhausted) 
from  my  ordnance  train,  which  I  had  ordered  up  to  the  ro?d  in  my 
rear.  This  done,  I  formed  my  command,  under  cover,  immediately 
in  his  rear,  for  his  support  at  such  point  as  it  might  be  needed.  Soon 
afterwards,  through  one  of  his  staff  officers,  he  requested  me  to  send 
him  support  on  his  left,  and  I  immediately  ordered  Colonel  Brantley, 
twenty-ninth  Mississippi  regiment,  with  his  own  regiment,  the  thir- 
tieth Mississippi,  and  a  small  detachment  cf  the  thirty-fourth,  to  sup- 
port this  part  of  his  line,  and  in  a  few  moments  the  remainder  of  my 
command  was  moved  up,  to  strengthen  the  line,  which,  along  it=t  whole 
length,  was  hotly  engaged.  I  directed  Colonel  Brantly  to  advance 
his  left,  as  far  as  it  could  be  done,  without  leaving  an  interval  between 
his  line  and  the  cliff,  so  as  to  get  the  benefit  of  an  oblique  fire 
the  line  which  was  passing  before  us.  This  order  was  executed  with 
that  officer's  characteristic  promptness. 

In  the  meantime  orders  were  received  from  Major  General  Steven- 
son, through  Major  Ingram  of  tbe  staff  of  the  Brigadier  General  com- 
manding, to  hold  the  line  then  occupied  till  reinforcements  should 
arrive,  when  an  advance  would  be  made,  and  the  force  on  the  moun- 
tain would  co-operate  ;  and  from  the  Brigadier  General  commanding, 
through  a  staff  officer,  that  the  position  would  be  held  as  long  as  pos- 
sible, and,  if  forced  to  retire,  that  1  would  fall  back  up  the  mountain. 
Later  in  the  evening  an  order  reached  mo  from  the  latter  to 
hold  my  position,  if  possible,  till  ordered  to  retire.  General  Pettus' 
command,  and  my  own,  held  the  position  all  the  afternoon,  (during 
the  most  of  which  time  it  was  so  hazy  and  misty  that  objects  could 
not  be  well  distinguished,  except  at  a  short  distance,)  and  until  long 
after  nightfall,  when,  having  been  relieved  by  Colonel  Iloltzclaw 
with  his  brigade,  I  withdrew  my  conmand  to  the  road  leading  down 
the  mountain  in  the  rear,  and  then  remained  till  about  eleven  o'clock, 
when,  under  orders  from  Major  General  Cheatham,  I  moved  my  com- 
mand to  McFarland's  spring,  where  it  passed  the  remainder  of  the 
night. 

At  no  time,  during  this  prolonged  struggle,  whose  object  was  to 
prevent  the  occupation  of  the  enemy  first,  ot  the  important  point 
near  Craven's  house,  and  afterwards  the  only  road  from  the  mountain, 


40 

leading  from  Major  General  Stevenson's  position  to  the  main  body 
cf  the  army,  did  I  have  the  benefit  of  my  division  commander's  per- 
sonal presence.  Reference  has  been  made  to  such  orders  as  reached 
me  from  him.  After  I  was  relieved,  and  while  awaiting  orders  to 
move,  I  saw  him  for  the  first  time,  on  his  way,  as  he  told  me,  to  see 
the  General- in-chief. 

The  casualties  of  my  command  cannot  be  correctly  reported,  inas- 
much as  the  killed  and  many  of  the  wounded  fell  into  the  enemy's 
hands.  The  accompanying  list,  to  which  I  respectfully  refer,  only 
shows  among  the  killed  and  wounded  such  as  are  were  known  cer- 
tainly to  be  so,  and  cannot,  for  want  of  positive  information,  em- 
brace a  large  number,  particularly  of  the  pickets  and  their  reserves 
en  the  right,  who  are  supposed  to  have  fallen,  as  they  were  long 
subjected  to  a  very  heavy  fire  both  from  artillery  and  small  arms,  but 
of  whose  loss,  further  than  that  they  fell  into  the  enemy'3  hands,  no 
report  can  be  had. 

I  regret  that,  for  want  of  a  competent  person  to  prepare  one,  I  am 
unable  to  submit  herewith  an  accurate  map  of  the  ground  I  occu- 
pied, and  its  surroundings,  aS  it  would  contribute  greatly  to  a  per- 
fect understanding  of  movements  and  events  as  related. 

No  copies  cf  the  dispatches  forwarded  during  the  morning,  having 
been  retained,  and  as  1  am  unable  to  obtain  such  now,  I  have  been 
compelled  to  give  them  from  memory. 

The  officers  and  men  of  my  command,  with  a  few  exceptions,  did 
their  duty  well  in  this  engagement ;  but  it  is  due  in  particular  to  com- 
mend Colonel  W.  F.  Brantley,  twenty -ninth  Mississippi  regiment,  and 
Lieutenant  Colonel  R.  P.  Macllvaine,  twenty-fourth  Mississippi  regi- 
ment, for  the  skill,  activity,  zeal  and  courage  I  have  ever  observed  in 
them  under  similar  circumstances,  but  which,  in  an  especial  degree, 
signalized  their  action  on  this  occasion. 

The  latter  officer  was  not  with  his  regiment  during  the  engagement 
west  of  the  mountain,  having  been  previously  assigned  to  duty  on  the 
picket  line,  where  he  rendered  me  important  aid.  Major  John  In- 
gram, assistant  adjutant  general  to  the  Brigadier  General  commanding, 
was  with  me  during  most  of  the  afternoon,  and  I  am  pleased  here  to 
signify  my  high  appreciation  of  his  gallantry,  and  the  valuable  as- 
sistance I  received  at  his  hands,  in  his  bearing  my  orders  and  other- 
wise. * 

To  Lieutenants  John  C.  Harrison,  A.  A.  A.  G.,  and  George  M. 
Govan,  assistant  inspector  general,  of  my  own  staff,  I  am  indebted  for 
the  promptness,  gallantry  and  efficiency  with  which  all  their  duties 
upon  the  field  were  discharged. 

I  submit  herewith  the  reports  of  the  regimental  commanders,  show- 
ing many  details,  not  incorporated  herein. 

Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

E.  C.  WALTHALL, 
Brigadier  General 


REPORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  CUMMING. 


Headquarters  Cumming's  Brigade, 


AW  Dalton,  Dec.  5,  1863. 


Major  John  J.  Reeve, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General : 


Major  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the 
operations  of  my  brigade  on  the  24th  and  25th  of  November  : 

About  four  o'clock,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  23rd  ultimo,  I  received 
an  order  from  Major  General  Stevenson,  commanding  forces  on  the 
left,  to  form  my  brigade  as  quickly  as  possible,  to  vacate  the  position 
which  I  had  occupied  for  the  previous  eight  or  ten  days,  on  the  moun- 
tain, and  to  proceed  to  occupy  the  line  which  had  just  been  vacated  by 
General  Gist's  (Walker's)  division.  I  was,  at  the  same  time,  informed 
that  Jackson's  brigade,  commanded  by  Colonel  Wilkerson,  would 
assist  me  in  holding  the  line  in  question,  and  that  he  had  already  been 
directed  to  report  to  me.  Owing  to  the  darkness  and  the  exceeding 
badness  of  the  road,  and  the  number  of  wagons  met  going  up  the 
mountain,  the  brigade  <iid  not  reach  the  line  until  about  nine  o'clock,  I\ 
M.  I  found  Colonel  Wilkerson  already  in  the  trenches,  and  placed 
my  brigade  on  his  right.  When  thus  placed  in  position  the  two  brig- 
ades rested  with  the  right  on  Chattanooga  creek  and  the  left  on  the 
road  to  Chattanooga,  which  passes  by  the  foot  of  Lookout  mountain. 

In  consequence  of  the  great  length  of  the  line  (upwards  of  a  mile) 
when  compared  with  the  smallness  of  the  force  on  hand  for  its  defence, 
I  considered  the  position  to  be  exceedingly  weak.  Fortunately,  how- 
ever, neither  on  that  night  nor  during  the  next  day,  did  the  enemy 
manifest  any  disposition  to  attack  us.  The  next  day  we  witnessed, 
without  being  able  to  render  them  any  assistance,  the  disaster  which 
befell  our  troops  on  the  mountain. 

About  ten  o'clock,  on  the  night  of  the  24th  instant,  Major  General 
Cheatham,  who  had,  in  the  course  of  the  day,  arrived  upon  the  ground, 
and,  by  virtue  of  seniority,  superseded  Major  General  Stevenson  in 
command,  visited  my  headquarters,  at  the  Gillespie  bouse,  in  company 
with  Major  General  Stevenson  and  Brigadier  General  Jackson.  The 
order  of  detail  was  at  that  time  given  by  Major  General  Cheatham  for 
the  withdrawal  of  the  troops  from  the  west  side  of  Chattanoogacrtek. 
By  the  term  of  this  order,  my  command  (two  brigades)  withdrew 
last,  and  at  an  hour  arranged  with  reference  to  the  withdrawal  of  the 
other  brigades  from  the  mountain,  half-past  two  o'clock  being  desig- 
nated as  the  hour  for  my  brigade  to  retire,  and  three  o'clock  for  my 
picket  to  be  recalled.  The  order  of  Major  General  Cheatham  also 
directed  that  the  troops  having  withdrawn  should  be  established  in 
line  of  battle  on  the  east  side  of  the  creek. 

Shortly  after  this,  Major  General  Cheatham  withdrew,  leaving 
Major  General  Stevenson  in  command  at  that  point.     A  short  time 


42 

before  the  arrival  of  the  hour  designated  for  the  withdrawal  of  my 
command,  a  staff  officer  of  the  General  commanding  reached  the 
quarters  with  directions  that  all  the  troops  should  be  withdrawn  as 
rapidly  as  possible  from  that  side  of  the  creek,  and  that  instead  of 
forming  line  of  battle  after  having  crossed,  they  should  be  marched 
with  all  possible  dispatch  to  the  right,  and  report  to  Lieutenant  Gen- 
eral Hardee.  It  being  within  a  few  minutes  of  the  time  designated 
for  the  withdrawal  of  my  brigade  by  Major  General  Cheatham,  and 
the  road  being  now  occupied  by  the  troops  which  preceded  mine, 
Major  General  Stevenson  deemed  it  not  advisable  to  change  the  time 
indicated  in  the  order  of  Major  General  Cheatham. 

At  half-past  two  o'clock,  1  withdrew,  and  having  reached  tho  Gil- 
lespie house,  directed  Wilkerson's  brigade  to  cross  the  creek  by  the 
upper  bridge,  and  report  there  to  Brigadier  General  Jackson.  My 
OAvn  brigade  crossed  at  the  lower  bridge,  passed  through  the  valley 
and  ascended  the  ridge  by  the  road  on  the  right  of  General  Bragg's 
headquarters.  After  reaching  the  top  of  the  ridge  we  were  subjected 
to  a  fire  of  shell.  At  this  time,  I  dispatched  a  staff  officer  to  find  tho 
headquarters  of  Lieutenant  General  Hardee  and   report  my  arrival. 

During  his  absence,  I  was  met  by  the  General  commanding  and 
directed  by  him  to  push  on  with  all  possible  speed  to  the  right.  Soon 
afterwards,  Maj.  General  Stevenson,  who  had  been  in  conference  with  the 
commanding  General,  directed  me  to  halt  my  brigade  until  his  division 
took  up  its  position  in  line  of  battle  on  Missionary  ridge  about  half- 
past  nine  o'clock.  In  this  line  my  brigade,  which  was  the  centre  of 
the  division,  had  its  right  resting  upon  the  top  of  the  tunnel.  In 
front  of  the  position  occupied  by  the  right  two  regiments,  a  wide  gorge, 
of  not  very  steep  descent  but  considerable  grown  up  with  the  thicket, 
descended  into  the  plain  beneath,  and  at  the  foot  of  which  were  a 
collection  of  houses  about  two  hundred  yards  from  the  line.  Beyond 
these  houses  the  country  spread  out  in  open  fields  in  all  directions. 
Upon  my  right,  and  somewhat  in  my  front,  was  a  strong  position  on 
a  knob  partially  fortified  and  held  by  a  portion  of  Major  General 
Cleburne's  troop3,  and  upon  which  it  soon  became  evident  the  enemy 
proposed  to  make  a  powerful  assault. 

Shortly  after  taking  position  in  line  of  battle,  the  skirmishers  of  the 
enemy  appeared  in  the  open  country  behind  the  houses  (a  long  line) 
advancing  upon  our  line,  and  supported  by  heavy  columns  in  the  rear. 
Seeing  them  advancing  upon  the  houses  heretofore  mentioned,  Lieu- 
tenant General  Hardee  had  directed  me  to  send  down  two  regiments  to 
take  possession  of  the  houses  and  hold  them,  but  if  compelled  to  retire 
to  burn  them.  The  thirty-ninth  Georgia  regiment,  Colonel  J.  T. 
McConnell  commanding,  and  the  fifty-sixth  Georgia  regiment,  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  J.  I.  Slaughter  commanding,  (the  right  two  regiments,) 
were  designed  as  the  ones  to  perform  this  movement.  They  passed 
down  the  ridge,  one  on  the  right  and  the  other  on  the  left  of  the  rail- 
road, and  engaged  the  enemy's  skirmishars  to  the  rear  and  right  of  the 
houses.  Here  a  brisk  skirmish  fight  occurred  between  the  two  regi- 
ments and  a  brigade  of  the  enemy,  but  at  long  distance,  and  resulting 
in  little  loss  on  either  side.      A  considerable  amount  of  ammunition 


45 

having  been  wasted,  and  the  two  regiments  being  apparently  threatened 
by  a  movement  of  the  enemy  on  their  right  flank,  who  had  advanced 
in  heavy  columns  towards  the  battery  on  the  fortified  knob  on  our 
right,  orders  were  given  them  by  Major  General  Stevenson  to  retake 
their  position  on  the  ridge.  This  movement  was  effected  in  perfect 
order,  under  a  dropping  fire  from  the  enemy's  sharpshooters.  Owing' 
to  some  misconception  of  orders,  the  troops  withdrew  without  setting 
fire  to  the  houses. 

During  the  absence  of  the  right  two  regiments,  the  left  two  regi- 
ments, the  thirty-Sixth  Georgia,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Wallace,  and  the 
thirty-fourth  Georgia,  Colonel  Johnson,  were  moved  up  to  supply  their 
position  in  the  line,  and  the  returned  regiments  formed  in  their  rear 
while  replenishing  their  cartridge  boxes.  While  the  left  two  were 
being  brought  to  supply  the  place  of  the  right  two  regiments,  each  of 
them  sustained  a  serious  loss  in  the  wounding  of  its  commanding  offi- 
cer. Colonel  J.  A.  W.  Johnson,  thirty-fourth  Georgia,  being  struck 
by  a  minie  ball  in  the  leg,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Wallace,  thirty- 
sixth  Georgia,  having  received  a  severe  contusion  from  the  fragment  of 
a  shell.  In  the  placing  hors  de  combat  of  these  two  brave  and  expe- 
rienced officers  upon  the  eve  of  a  hot  encounter,  I  felt  that  the  bri- 
gade, as  well  as  their  respective  regiments,  had  sustained  a  serious  loss. 

His  regiment  having  been  supplied  with  ammunition,  the  gallant 
Colonel  McConnell  requested  to  be  allowed  to  take  it  again  to  the  foot 
of  the  hill  and  drive  the  enemy  from  the  houses  and  vicinity.  Tliis 
permission  was  not  accorded,  but  subsequently  he  was  directed  to  send 
four  companies  to  set  fire  to  the  houses.  This  was  successfully  per- 
formed by  Captain  Milton,  who  took  possession  of  the  houses,  burnt 
them  and  rejoined  his  regiment,  bringing  off  with  him  nine  prisoners, 
and  sustaining  but  little  loss. 

Shortly  after  this  operation,  about  one  o'clock,  V.  M.,  I  received  an 
order  from  Major  General  Stevenson  to  send  one  regiment  of  my  bri- 
gade to  report  to  Major  General  Cleburne  to  continue  the  left  of  his 
line  from  the  direction  of  the  knob,  hitherto  mentioned  towards  the 
railroad.  This  duty  was  assigned  to  the  thirty- ninth  Georgia,  which, 
forming  in  line  of  battle,  marched  to  the  position  indicated.  Imme- 
diately afterwards*  I  received  directions  to  send  another  regiment  to 
the  same  point  and  with  the  same  instructions.  The  thirty-fourth 
Georgia,  commanded  now  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Bradley,  was  sent.  The 
two  regiments  last  referred  to,  in  the  position  they  now  occupied,  held 
the  crest  of  the  ridge  between  the  fortified  point,  heretofore  referred 
to,  and  the  railroad.  Immediately  upon  their  arrival  at  their  respective 
positions,  each  regiment,  in  succession,  became  hotly  engaged 
with  the  enemy,  who  occupied  a  declivity  behind  a  ridge  about  thirty 
yards  from  the  ridge  occupied  by  our  troops.  At  this  point  the  gal- 
lant Colonel  McConnell  fell,  shot  through  the  head  with  a  rifle  ball. 
Actuated  by  a  zealous  desire  to  place  his  troops  in  a  position  where 
they  could  be  most  effectively  employed  against  the  enemy,  he  rode 
forward  to  the  front  and  right  of  his  regiment.  In  this  he  was  plainly 
exposed  to  the  view  of  the  enemy's  line.  His  life  fell  a  sacrifice  to  his 
zeal  and  fidelity  to  the  public  cause.     In  his  death  the  Confederacy  lost 


44 

a  most  gallant  and  meritorious  soldier,  and  the  State  of  Georgia  a 
most  useful  and  patriotic  citizen. 

While  the  two  regiments  last  referred  to  had  been  taking  up  their 
position  on  Cleburne's  left,  the  other  two  regiments  of  the  brigade, 
the  fifty-sixth  and  thirty-sixth  Georgia,  had  been  conducted  by  the 
Brigadier  General,  in  person,  in  rear  of  the  fortified  knob.  Shortly 
after  attaining  this  position,  an  order  was  received  from  Major  Gen- 
eral Stevenson  to  send  another  regiment  to  Cleburne's  left.  The 
fifty-sixth  Georgia  was  formed  and  marched  in  line  of  battle  up  the 
knoll,  the  brigade  commander  directing  its  movements  in  person. 
Before  attaining  the  crest  of  the  ridge,  I  encountered  Major  General 
Cleburne,  to  whom  I  reported,  and  by  whom  I  was  directed  to  carry 
the  regiment  to  the  highest  point  of  the  knob,  and  to  the  nearest 
place  behind  the  breastworks  where  it  would  be  sheltered,  and  to 
retain  that  position.  In  attaining  this  position  the  regiment  was  sub- 
jected to  a  very  heavy  fire,  during  which  Lieut.  Colonel  Slaughter 
fell,  wounded  in  the  leg  by  a  fragment  of  shell. 

Upon  my  appearance  on  the  hill,  I  was  met  by  several  officers  of 
the  rank  of  colonel,  whose  troops  were  engaged  in  the  breastwerks, 
and  who  were  acquainted  with  the  situation  of  affairs,  who  advised 
me  that  our  troops  in  the  outer  line  were  being  shot  down  by  the 
enemy,  who  was  completely  under  shelter,  and  that  a  brisk,  effective 
charge  at  that  point  would  probably  succeed  in  driving  him  from  the 
front  of  the  works.  I  was  advised,  at  the  same  time,  of  an  opening 
of  forty  or  fifty  yards  in  the  breastworks,  immediately  in  my  front, 
through  which  I  could  make  the  charge.  I  at  once  approved  tho  idea, 
but  felt  that  another  regiment  would  be  necessary  to  its  successful 
prosecution,  and  1  desired,  likewise,  to  obtain  the  consent  of  the 
Major  General  commanding  to  the  measure.  I  at  once  dispatched  my 
assistant  adjutant  general,  Captain  Phinizy,  to  bring  on  the  thirty- 
sixth  Georgia  regiment.  At  the  same  time  a  messenger  was  sent  to 
Major  General  Cleburne  to  ask  his  assent  to  the  proposed  charge. 
The  thirty-sixth  Georgia  was  very  shortly  brought  up  and  placed  in 
rear  of  the  fifty-sixth,  and  about  ten  paces  from  it.  These  regiments 
were  commanded  at  this  time  respectively  by  Captain  Grice  and  Cap- 
tain Morgan.  Calling  these  officers,  together  with  several  other  of 
the  senior  officers  of  the  regiments  around  me,  I  explained  to  them, 
in  detail,  the  movement  about  to  be  executed,  and  the  mode  of  pro- 
ceeding that  I  desired  them  to  adopt.  This  was,  substantially,  to 
push  forward,  on  the  word  being  given,  at  the  "  double-quick,"  pass- 
ing over  every  obstacle  that  they  might  encounter,  breaking  over  the 
breastworks  and  the  men  that  line  them,  when  they  should  reach  that 
point,  and  engage  the  enemy  with  the  bayonet,  not  opening  fire  until 
he  shoutd  commence  to  give  way. 

I  observed,  upon  the  part  of  the  commanders  just  mentioned,  as 
well  as  their  subordinates,  a  manifest  disposition  to  perform  the  work 
required  at  their  hands  with  zeal  and  alacrity.  The  rank  and  file  of 
the  regiments  also  seemed  to  be  moved  by  a  desire  to  engage  the 
enemy  in  a  hand  to  hand  conflict. 

The  charge  was   not  delayed  by  Major   General   Cleburne.     We 


45 

had  but  completed  all  preparations  for  it,  when  an  order  was  brought 
me  from  that  officer  to  move  forward  on  the  charge  and  engage  the 
enemy.  Immediately  the  word  was  given,  the  men  stood  up  in  their 
ranks,  and  at  the  word  "  forward,"  rushed  on,  with  a  cheer;  ODe  regi- 
ment following  immediately  in  rear  of  the  other.  On  arriving  at  the 
open  space,  heretofore  mentioned  as  existing  between  the  two  posi- 
tions of  our  breastworks  on  the  hill,  it  was  found  that  this  opening 
was  only  sufficiently  extensive  to  admit  the  passage  out  of  one-third 
of  the  regimental  front.  This  compelled  the  men  upon  the  flank  of 
the  regiments  to  make  their  way  out  by  climbing  over  the  men  in  the 
ditches  and  the  breastworks.  This  unavoidably  created  some  con- 
fusion, which  was  added  to  by  a  heavy  volley  poured  in  by  the  enemy. 

By  the  energetic  exertion  of  the  officers,  the  two  regiments  were, 
however,  in  a  few  moments  reformed  and  started  forward.  The  two 
regiments  of  the  brigade  upon  our  left,  who,  up  to  this  time,  had  not 
been  acting  in  conjunction  with  us,  being  apprised  of  the  charge 
being  made  by  their  comrades  on  the  right,  under  the  direction  of 
their  regimental  commanders,  moved  forward  and  engaged  the  enemy 
in  their  front,  thus  supporting  us  on  the  left,  and  making  the 
charge — one  of  brigade  front — all  along  the  line.  The  charge  was 
entirely  successful.  The  men,  exhibiting  great  bravery  and  deter- 
mination, and,  gallantly  led  on  by  their  officers,  met  the  enemy  in  a 
short  but  decisive  hand-to-hand  encounter,  and  drove  him  over  the 
elope  on  which  he  had  been  posted.  The  enemy  which  was  immediately 
in  front  of  us  took  shelter  behind  rocks  and  trees,  and,  supported  by 
heavy  columns  in  his  rear,  kept  up  a  brisk  and  galling  fire  upon  us. 
Thib  fire  was  returned  with  spirit  by  our  troops,  who,  however,  having 
been  considerably  broken  up  by  the  nature  of  the  ground  traversed, 
and  by  the  sharp  conflict  with  the  enemy,  gradually  drew  back  to  the 
top  of  the  ridge,  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  rifle-pits,  the  enemy 
closing  up  behind  us  cautiously  and  slowly,  without  any  disposition 
to  charge. 

Having  readjusted  the  line,  and  given  the  command  for  ten  or 
fifteen  minutes'  rest,  the  charge  was  again  called,  and  the  troops  a 
third  time  rushed  down  the  hill-side  with  great  courage  and  alacrity, 
and,  charging  upon  the  enemy  in  the  flat,  in  a  short  time  completely 
routed  him  and  drove  him  in  confusion  beyond  his  supports.  The 
troops  retained  their  positions  at  the  foot  of  the  slope  until  their  dead 
and  wounded  were  brought  in.  There  being  no  further  indication  of 
an  advance  upon  the  part  of  the  enemy,  the  brigade  was  then  drawn 
behind  the  breastworks,  and  rested  on  its  arms,  in  rear  of  certain 
fresh  troops  who  were  found  in  that  position. 

Shortly  after  our  withdrawal  to  the  point  designated,  I  received  an 
order  from  Major  General  Cleburne  to  move  my  brigade  down  the 
ridge  towards  the  left.  After  moving  about  half  a  mile  to  the  left,  I 
found  the  head  of  ray  column  approaching  a  line  of  battle,  drawn  up 
at  right  angles  to  the  ridge.  On  riding  forward,  I  ascertained  it  was 
Brigadier  General  Brown's  brigade.  On  consultation  with  that  offi- 
cer, I  was  advised  to  retain  my  (then)  position  until  instructions 
should  be  received  from  Lieutenant  General  Hardee.     At  this  moment 


46 

the  enemy  opened  fire  upon  the  troops  that  were  in  front  of  Brigadier 
General  Brown,  and,  those  troops  giving  back,  General  Brown's  brig- 
ade was  faced  about  and  marched  to  the  rear,  pursuant  to  orders 
previously  given  him.  This  produced  some  little  confusion  in  my 
troops,  which  was,  however,  shortly  rectified,  and  they  were  marched 
forward  and  placed  in  line  of  battle  on  General  Brown's  right,  and  in 
continuation  of  his  line.  Immediately  thereafter  we  received  orders 
from  Major  General  Cheatham  to  move  our  troops  from  the  field  by 
the  left  flank,  moving  towards  Chickamaqga  Depot.  This  was  effected 
under  cover  of  night,  and  without  loss  or  confusion. 

In  a  contest  in  which  all  concerned  bore  themselves  so  well,  it  is 
impossible  to  particularize.  The  regiments  all  conducted  themselves 
with  distinguished  gallantry.  In  the  several  charges,  five  colors  and 
many  prisoners  were  taken  by  the  brigade.  The  commanders  of  the 
fifty-sixth  and  thirty-eighth  Georgia  regiments  (Captains  Grice  and 
Morgan)  managed  their  regiments  with  great  boldness  and  energy. 
The  brigade  commander  also  received  valuable  assistance  from  Acting 
Adjutant  Brewster,  of  the  fifty-sixth  regiment. 

Captains  Cody,  Wise  and  Phinizy,  and  Lieutenant  Steiner,  of  my 
staff,  were  with  me  during  the  engagement,  and  were  especially  active 
and  prompt  in  discharge  of  their  duty.  They  rendered  valuable  aid 
in  encouraging  and  leading  on  the  troops.  In  the  final  charge,  Cap- 
tain Cody,  acting  assistant  inspector  general,  had  his  leg  broken 
by  a  musket  ball,  and  Lieutenant  Steiner,  my  aid-de-camp,  was 
wounded  in  the  hand  by  a  fragment  of  shell. 

I  send  herewith  a  list  of  casualties. 

I  am,  Major,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  CUMMING, 
Brigadier  General. 


REPORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  BROWN. 


Headquarters  Brown's  Brtgxde, 


November  30,  1863. 


i 


To  Major  J.  J.  Reeve, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General,  Stevenson's  Division  : 

Major  :  I  beg  to  submit  a  report  of  the  part  performed  by  my 
command  in  the  battle  of  Lookout  mountain  and  Missionary  ridge, 
the  20th  and  25th  of  November,  1863. 

On  Monday  night,  23d  of  November,  Major  General  Stevenson 
directed  me  to  take  command  of  his  division,  then  occupying  the 
summit  of  Lookout  mountain  and  defending  the  approaches  at  that 
point  and  on  the  west  slope  of  the  mountain  as  far  as  Nichojack  trail, 
a  distance  of  ten  miles.  At  twelve  o'clock  that  night,  I  was  ordered 
by  the  Major  General  to  send  Cumming's  brigade  to  the  base  of  Look- 
out mountain  to  report  to  Brigadier  General  Jackson,  and  Haggerty'g 
battery  of  Parrott  guns  to  report  to  Brigadier  General  Anderson  on 
the  right  of  the  line  on  Missionary  ridge.  Early  on  Tuesday  morn- 
ing, the  24th,  the  pickets  at  passes  of  the  mountain  were  reinforced, 
and  at  twelve,  M.,  in  obedience  to  my  order  from  the  Major  General 
commanding,  I  sent  Pettus'  brigade,  except  the  twenty-third  and 
thirtieth  Alabama  regiments,  to  report  to  Brigadier  General  Jackscn, 
half  way  down  the  mountain,  leaving  me  only  half  of  my  own  brig- 
ade, the  twenty-third  and  thirtieth  Alabama,  and  Corquit's  battery  of 
Napoleons.  The  eighteenth  and  twentieth  regiments,  (consolidated.) 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Butler,  were  disposed  at 
Powell's  and  Nichojack's  trails  and  the  contiguous  passes.  Powell's 
trail  is  seven  and  Nichojack's  ten  miles  from  the  north  point  of  Look- 
out. The  pass  at  the  point  over  those  nearest  to  it  for  two  and  a  half 
miles  on  the  west  side,  were  held  by  detachments  from  the  twenty- 
third  and  thirtieth  Alabama  regiments,  while  reserves  from  the  same 
regiments,  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Hundley,  officer  of 
the  day,  were  held  near  the  line  of  defences  south  of  Summertown  to 
reinforce  the  pickets.     One  section    of  the  battery,  under  charge  of 

,  was  in  position  near  the  point,   while  the  other  section  was 

held  disposable  between  the  point  and  the  lino  of  defences  on  tho 
south.  About  half-past  twelve,  P.  M.,  I  moved  tho  thirty-second 
Tennessee,  the  largest  regiment  of  my  brigade,  to  reinforce  the  point 
and  to  support  the  battery.  At  ten  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  two  Napoleon 
guns  on  the  point  opened  hre  upon  the  enemy  then  passing  near  the 
Craven  house,  and  continued  it  incessantly  for  two  hours.  At  the 
same  time,  I  deployed  sharpshooters  from  the  thirty-second  Tennes- 
see and  the  thirtieth  Alabama  down  tho  sides  of  the  mountain  and 
directed  a  fire  upon  the  enemy's  flank.  I  ordered  rocks  rolled  down 
the  mountain  also.  The  fog  was  so  dense  that  we  could  not  see  the 
enemy,  although  we  could  hear  his  march,  and,  guided  by  thi3  and 
the  report  of  his  musketry,  our  fire  was  directed.     His  advance  was 


48 

quickly  checked  and  his  fire  materially  abated,  and  doubtless  the 
effect  of  the  shells  from  the  two  Napoleon  guns  and  the  fire  of 
our  sharpshooters  contributed  largely  to  this  end.  Late  in  the  after- 
noon (the  hour  not  recollected)  I  reported  to  the  Major  General  com- 
manding, in  answer  to  a  summons  from  him,  and  was  informed  that 
he  had  been  directed  by  General  Bragg  to  withdraw  from  the  moun- 
tain. I  gave  orders  to  all  the  troops  to  be  ready  to  move  at  seven, 
P.  M.  Nearly  all  of  our  wagons  had  been  ordered  the  night  previous 
to  Chickanoauga  station  for  supplies  and  had  not  returned.  The  con- 
sequence was  that  our  camp  equipage  and  part  of  our  baggage  was 
abandoned.  At  seven,  P.  M  ,  the  troops,  artillery  and  ordnance 
trains  were  quietly  withdrawn  to  the  valley  by  the  Chattanooga  road 
and  crossed  Chattanooga  creek  by  ten  o'clock.  The  eighteenth  and 
twentieth  Tennessee  regiments  were  withdrawn  by  the  McCullough 
road,  and  crossed  the  valley  and  Missionary  ridge  by  way  of  Ross- 
t i  1 1 e  and  did  not  form  a  junction  with  the  command  until  late  the 
afternoon  of  the  next  day.  I  halted  my  brigade  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Chattanooga  creek  fronting  on  that  stream,  my  right  resting  on 
the  left  of  Breckinridge's  line.  At  four,  A.  M.,  the  25th,  I  received 
orders  from  Major  Clare,  of  General  Bragg's  staff,  to  move  to  the 
extreme  right  of  the  line,  which  1  did  at  once,  reaching  the  position 
of  Major  General  Cleburne  immediately  after  sunset.  Under  the 
direction  of  Major  General  Stevenson,  I  formed  with  my  left  resting 
over  the  tunnel  through  which  the  East  Tennessee  and  Virginia  rail- 
road passes  Missionary  ridge.  My  line  was  soon  afterwards  changed 
by  Lieutenant  General  Hardee  so  as  to  be  in  position  to  support 
Cleburne's  left,  or  hold  the  railroad,  as  occasion  might  demand.  My 
skirmishers  covered  the  ground  from  Cleburne's  left  to  the  railroad, 
moving  as  far  forward  as  Glass  station.  An  hour  or  two  later,  by 
direction  of  Major  General  Stevenson,  I  moved  up  so  as  to  occupy 
the  interval  between  the  left  of  Cleburne's  line  of  defence  and  the 
railroad.  Prolonging  Cleburne's  line  to  the  railroad,  my  left  con- 
siderably advanced.  I  occupied  this  position  till  near  sunset.  My 
skirmishers  were  all  the  while  engaged,  and  so  hotly  for  a  time  that  I 
reinforced  the  line  until  nearly  all  my  command  were  deployed  as 
skirmishers.  They  checked  the  enemy  and  prevented  his  advance, 
killed  and  wounded  many  and  captured  fifty  prisoners.  I  did  not 
advance  from  my  position  because  my  orders  left  me  no  discretion. 
Indeed,  there  was  probably  no  time  when  it  would  have  been  advisable. 
About  three  o'clock,  P.  M.,  Major  General  Cleburne  suggested  to 
me  that  I  might  change  my  front  forward  on  my  right  battalion  and 
attack  the  column  of  the  enemy  in  flank,  which  was  moving  imme- 
diately on  his  front.  I  told  him  I  had  just  returned  from  my  line 
of  skirmishers,  who  were  hotly  engaged,  and  if  I  changed  the 
lirection  of  my  line  I  would  be  exposed  to  a  terrible  fire  on  my 
flank  from  the  enemy,  who  was  lying  under  the  hill  not  more  than 
three  hundred  yards  in  my  front.  He  readily  saw  that  the  move- 
ment would  be  hazardous,  and  directed  me  not  to  make  it,  but  to 
retain  my  position.  About  one  hour  before  sunset  I  was  ordered 
to  more  rapidly  towards  the  centre   and    report  to  Major  General 


49 

Cheatham  with  my  command.  By  this  officers  directions,  I  formed 
on  the  left  of  the  remnant  of  Walthall's  brigade,  which  had  its  right 
resting  on  the  line  of  deferice,  the  enemy  having  previously  pene- 
trated the  centre  of  our  line  on  Missionary  ridge.  There  was  an 
irregular  line  in  our  front,  skirmishing  with  the  enemy,  but  it  soon 
retired  in  broken  fragments,  and  we  then  advanced.  I  had  orders 
to  conform  the  movements  of  my  part  of  the  line  to  that  of  the 
command  on  my  right.  Before  advancing  one  hundred  yards  the 
troops  on  my  right  gave  way  in  great  disorder,  and  while  that  portion 
was  being  reformed,  orders  arrived  for  me  to  move  by  the  left  Sank 
across  to  Chickamauga  by  way  of  the  railroad  bridge.  Major  General 
Cheatham  conducted  the  movement,  and  in  less  thao  three  hours  we 
had  effected  the  crossing  near  the  Shallow  ford  road. 

My  entire  command,  without  an  exception,  behaved  well.  Captain 
Tucker,  thirty-second  Tennessee  regiment,  had  charge  of  the  line  of 
skirmishers  on  the  25th,  and  deserves  the  highest  praise  for  his  skill 
and  coolness.  I  am  under  renewed  obligations  to  Captain  II.  J. 
Cheney,  assistant  adjutant  general,  J.  T.  Brown,  first  lieutenant  and 
aid-de-camp,  Captain  J.  B.  Moore,  assistant  inspector  general  of  my 
etaff,  and  M.  II.  Carter  and  Geo  B.  McCallum,  acting  staff  officers--, 
for  the  prompt  and  efficient  discharge  of  their  respective  duties. 

Attention  is  invited  to  the  reports  of  the  regimental  commanders 
herewith  filed,  respectively,  A,  B,  C,  D,  and  E. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Major, 

Most  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
J.  W.  BROWN, 
Brigadier   Gcnr 


t 

REPORT  OF  BRIGDIER  GENERAL  PETTUS. 

Headquarters  Pettus'  Brigade,  ? 

Camp  near  Dalton,   Georgia,  Dec.  6th,   1863.  5 

Major  Ingram,  Assistant  Adjutant  General : 

Sir  :  At  half  past  twelve  o'clock,  on  the  24th  ult.,  I  was  with  my 
command  on  the  top  of  Lookout  mountain,  and  was  then  ordered  by 
Brigadier  General  Brown,  commanding  Stevenson's  division,  to  re- 
port, with  three  regiments  of  my  command,  to  Brigadier  General 
Jackson,  commanding  at  the  Craven  house.  I  moved  at  once  with 
the  twentieth,  thirty-first  and  forty-sixth  Alabama  regiments,  and  at 
the  head  of  the  column.  I  found  Brigadier  General  Jackson  at  the 
joint  where  the  road  to  the  Craven  house  leaves  the  road  leading  down 
the  mountain.  Communicating  my  orders,  I  was  directed  to  hasten 
forward,  and  reinforce  Brigadier  General  Moore,  at  the  Craven  house. 

On  the  way,  I  met  squads  of  Moore's  and  Walthall's  brigades,  and, 
when  about  three  hundred  yards  from  the  Craven  house,  I  found  that 
that  point  had  been  carried  by  the  enemy.  The  two  brigades  which 
had  held  the  point  had  fallen  back.  Here  I  found  Brigadier  General 
Walthall,  with  the  remnant  of  his  command,  formed  at  right  angles 
with,  and  on  the  left  of  the  road,  gallantly  fighting  to  stay  the  ad- 
vance of  the  enemy.  He  informed  me  that  he  had  lost  a  large  part 
of  his  command,  that  his  ammunition  was  nearly  exhausted,  and  that 
he  could  not  hold  the  position  he  then  had.  Having  no  time  to  send 
back  for  orders,  and  finding  the  fighting  was  then  all  on  the  left  of 
the  road,  I  moved  my  command,  though  right  in  front,  by  filing  to  the 
left,  directly  up  the  mountain  side,  to  the  rock  bluff.  As  soon  as 
formed,  my  command  was  faced  by  the  rear  rank,  moved  forward,  re- 
lieving Walthall's  brigade,  and  was  at  once  engaged  with  the  enemy. 
Whilst  my  command  was  moving  into  position,  I  sent  an  officer  to  the 
right,  to  find  Brigadier  General  Moore,  and  to  ascertain  his  condition 
and  the  position  of  his  line.  In  this  way  I  learned  that  Moore's  left 
was  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  my  right,  and  his  right 
jesting  at  the  large  rocks  in  the  road,  above  the  mouth  of  Chatta- 
nooga creek.  I  then  went  down  to  Moore's  line,  and  had  a  few  mo- 
ments consultation  with  him,  and,,  at  his  request,  extended  intervals 
to  the  right,  so  as  to  connect  with  his  line. 

The  facts  were  communicated  by  me  to  Brigadier  General  Jackson, 
with  the  request  that  he  would  come  forward,  look  at  the  line,  and 
give  us  orders  ;  but  he  did  not  come  in  person,  but  sent  orders  that 
the  position  must  be  held.  Meantime,  the  enemy  made  repeated  as- 
saults on  my  left,  next  to  the  bluff,  but  were  bravely  met  and  repulsed 
by  the  twentieth  Alabama  regiment  and  four  companies  of  the  thirty- 
first  Alabama  regiment. 

Knowing  that  Brigadier  General  Moore's  line  was  weak,  and  know-- 
inc  that  his  men  were  almost  out  of  ammunition,  I  again  sent  Cap- 
tain Smith,  of  my  staff,  to  inform  the  Brigadier  General  commanding 


61 

as  to  the  progress  of  the  fight,  and  to  ask  his  assistance.  Captain 
Smith  found  Brigadier  General  Jackson  at  the  headquarters  of  Major 
General  Stevenson,  on  the  top  of  the  mountain,  who  was  then  com- 
manding the  forces  west  of  Chattanooga  creek,  about  one  mile  and  a 
half  from  the  fight,  where  General  Jackson  informs  me  he  had  gone 
to  confer  with  General  Stevenson  as  to  the  mode  in  which  the  troops 
should  be  withdrawn  in  case  the  enemy  should  get  possession  of  the 
mountain  road.  In  answer  to  my  communication,  1  was  directed  to 
hold  my  position  a3  long  as  possible.  When  I  had  to  send  again  to 
the  Brigadier  General  commanding,  he  was  still  on  the  top  of  the 
mountain. 

After  my  command  had  been  engaged  about  two  hours,  Brigadier 
General  Walthall  having  formed  the  remnant  of  his  brigade  and  sup- 
plied his  men  with  ammunition,  returned  with  his  command  into  the 
tight  on  the  left,  and  our  commands  fought  together  from  that  time 
until  relieved. 

It  should  be  remarked  that,  during  the  day,  the  fog  was  very  dense 
en  the  mountain  side  ;  it  was  almost  impossible  to  distinguish  any 
object  at  the  distance  of  one  hundred  yards.  The  enemy  made  no 
attack  on  my  right  nor  on  Brigadier  General  Moore's  line  ;  but  the 
attack  on  the  left  was  continued,  and  finding  that  the  purpose  of  the 
enemy  was  to  force  my  left,  at  the  suggestion  of  Brigadier  General 
Walthall,  I  ordered  Captain  Davis,  commanding  the  twentieth  Ala- 
bama regiment,  to  move  forward,  keeping  his  left  well  up  to  the  bluff, 
and  drive  the  enemy  from  the  higher  ground  they  then  held.  The 
order  was  executed  promptly  and  in  gallant  style.  The  higher  ground 
was  gained  and  held  during  the  fight. 

About  eight  o'clock  at  night,  Clayton's  brigade,  commanded  by  Col- 
onel Holtzclaw, relieved  Walthall's  brigade  and  the  twentieth  and  thirty- 
first  Alabama  regiments,  of  my  command.  These  two  regiments 
were  withdrawn,  and  formed  in  the  road  a  short  distance  in  the  rear. 
Sometime  after  th;s,  I  went  to  the  road  leading  down  the  mountain, 
and  there  met  Brigadier  General  Jackson  coming  down.  He  directed 
me  to  keep  my  command  where  it  was  and  await  orders,  and  then 
passed  on  down  the  mountain.  After  one  o'clock  that  night,  I  re- 
ceived orders  from  the  Brigadier  General  commanding,  to  retire  with' 
my  command  across  Chattanooga  creek  at  the  upper  bridge,  which 
was  done  quietly  and  in  good  order. 

Captains  Jones  and  Smith,  of  my  staff,  bore  themselves  gallantly 
throughout  the  affair. 

Below  is  a  statement  of  the  casualties  in  my  command.   It  is  small. 
The  day  was  dark  and  the  men  well  sheltered  in  the  rocks. 
I  am,  sir,  most  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

E.   W.  PETTUS, 
Brigadier  General  commanding. 

CASUALTIES  in  Ptitusi  Brigade,  in  the.  fight  of  24th  ultimo  : 
Killed,  9  ;  wounded,  3S;  missing,  9.     Total  loss  56. 


ItErGRT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  MOORE. 

Headquarters  Moore's  Brigade,  Cheatham's  Division,  / 
Near  DJton,  Ga.,  Dec.  3,  1863.      \ 

Major  John  Ingram, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General : 

Major  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  part 
taken  by  this  brigade  in  the  engagement  on  Lookout  mountain,  on 
the  24th,  and  that  on  Missionary  ridge,  on  the  25th  ultimo  : 

The  brigade  was  composed  of  the  thirty-aoventh  Alabama,  Lieuten- 
ant Colonel  Green  commanding,  the  fortieth  Alobima,  Colonel  Hig- 
ley,  and  the  forty-second  Alabama,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Lanier.  The 
result  of  the  engagement  on  the  mountain,  a3  I  conceive,  renders  it 
necessary  for  me  to  enter  more  fully  into  details  than  I  would  other- 
wise do. 

This  position  was  occupied  by  my  brigade  on  the  right,  and  Wal- 
thall's on  the  left,  or  beyond  the  Craven  house,  the  whole  force  being 
under  the  command  of  Brigadier  General  J.  K.Jackson.  My  brigade 
had  charge  of  the  picket  line  from  the  mouth  of  Cattanooga  creek  to 
the  railroad  crossing  of  Lookout  creek,  and  Walthall's,  from  that  point 
around  to  the  left. 

A  few  days  previous  to  the  attack,  I  made  a  rcconnoissance  of  the 
whole  picket  line,  and  forwarded  a  report,  by  order  of  Lieutenant 
General  Hardee,  through  Brigadier  General  Jackson.  At  this  time  the 
picket  line  on  Lookout  creek  extended  up  that  stream  about  two  miles, 
to  a  good  ford,  near  an  old  mill.  Our  line  thus  being  very  long,  re- 
quiring a  large  detail  (seven  hundred)  from  our  comparatively  small 
force,  I  advised,  in  my  report,  the  shortening  of  the  line  by  turning 
up  the  mountain  at  a  point  known  as  the  Surry  house,  and  that  the 
ford  at  the  old  mill  be  watched  by  scouting  parties  during  the  day 
and  videttes  at  night.  A  day  or  two  after  this,  General  Walthall 
informed  me  that  he  had  been  instructed  to  picket  along  the  creek 
only  as  far  as  the  railroad  bridge,  extending  his  line  from  that  point 
up  the  mountain.  This  threw  our  picket  line  very  near  the  brigade 
on  the  left,  rendering  them  very  liable  to  a  surprise,  by  the  enemy 
crossing  above  and  coming  down  on  the  left.  Whether  this  was  the 
case  on  the  day  of  the  assault,  I  am  nr>t  sufficiently  informed  to  state, 
though  the  result  seems  to  indicate  such  to  have  been  the  case.  Up 
to  the  time  of  the  assault,  none  of  the  enemy  had  crossed  in  front  of 
my  picket  line,  and  those  who  escaped  inform  me  that  the  first  inti- 
mation they  had  of  the  presence  of  the  enemy,  on  the  south  side  of 
the  creek,  was  their  appearance  in  force  on  the  side  of  the  mountain 
in  their  rear.  Consequently  the  greater  portion  of  the  picket  force 
of  this  brigade  (two  hundred  and  twenty-five)  were  captured. 

About  eleven  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  I  learned  tho 
enemy  were  forming  their  forces  in  line  of  battle  in  front  of  our 
pickets.     I  went  immediately  to  a   point  beyond  the  Craven  house, 


53 


from  which  I  could  see  that  such  was  the  case,  and  reported  the  fact  in 
note  to  Brigadier  General  Jackson,  informing  him  also  they  had  com- 
menced skirmishing  with  our  pickets.  I  ordered  my  brigade  at  once 
under  arms,  ready  to  move  where  ordered.  General  Jackson  ordered 
me,  through  a  stuff  officer,  to  place  my  brigade  in  the  trenches,  on 
the  right  of  Walthall's.  General  Walthall's  brigade  not  being  in 
position  in  the  trenches,  I  informed  him  of  my  order,  and  asked  him 
where  his  right  would  rest.  I  could  get  no  definite  answer ;  he 
merely  stating  that  he  intended  to  fight  first  beyond  the  entrench- 
ments and  then  falling  back,  if  he  found  it  necessary  to  do  so,  and 
desired  that  I  leave  vacant,  on  the  left,  space  for  his  command.  One 
of  General  Jackson's  staff  being  present,  told  me  to  wait  until  he  could 
see  the  General,  and  get  further  or  more  definite  instructions.  But 
the  firing  on  the  left  in  a  few  moments  becoming  quite  hea- 
thought  it  advisable  to  place  my  command  in  position  without  furtjier 
orders.  I  at  once  moved  the  brigade,  urging  upon. the  commanders 
the  iriiportance  of  dispatch  ;  but,  to  my  utter  astonishment,  before  wo 
reached  the  trenches  (a  distance  of  three  or  four  hundred  yards)  the 
enemy  had  driven  back  Walthall's  brigade,  south  of  the  Craven  house, 
and  had  even  occupied  a  portion  of  the  trenches  of  my  brigade,  from 
which  we  very  soon  drove  them,  on  our  arrival.  We  were  thus  com- 
pelled to  enter  the  entrenchments  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy  in  front, 
arid  a  very  heavy  fire  from  the  Moccasin  Point  batteries,  within  short 
range.  As  Walthall's  brigade,  where  driven  back,  did  not  occupy  the 
line  on  our  left,  or  at  least  the  portion  near  the  Craven  house  which 
we  could  see,  the  enemy  got  possession  of  that  position,  end  also  the 
commanding  ground  near  the  house,  from  which  they  completely  en- 
filaded my  left,  which  was  afterwards  retired  a  little  to  the  right, 
under  cover  of  the  rising  ground.  We  held  the  position  from  this 
time  until  between  three  and  four  o'clock,  the  enemy  repeatedly 
charging,  but  repulsed,  two  of  their  color-bearers  being  shot  down  by 
our  men  in  the  trenches,  while  attemp:ing  to  plant  their  colors  on  the 
embankment. 

I  have  never  before  seen  them  fight  with  such  daring  and  de?p?n- 
ti^n.  Though  they  got  possession  of  the  Craven  house  at  an  early 
hour,  yet  they  did  not  attempt  to  turn  the  left  flank  until  between 
three  and  f^ur  o'clock,  P.  M.  We  had  now  been  engaged  near  three 
hours.  We  had  but  thirty  rounds  of  ammunition  at  first,  that  being 
the  capacity  of  the  cartridge  boxes  issued  to  the  brigade,  and  this  sup- 
ply was  now  nearly  exhausted  ;  entirely  so  with  some  of  the  men.  I 
had  not  seen  Brigadier  General  Jackson  during  the  day.  He  gave 
me  no  orders  during  the  engagement.  I  sent  a  staff  officer  to  his 
headquarters  to  inform  him  of  our  condition,  but  he  returned  and 
reported  he  could  not  find  General  Jackson,  who  was  absent. 

If  we  had  been  properly  supported  on  the  left,  I  believe  we  could 
have  held  the  trenches  even  with  empty  guns.  But  that  support  was 
not  given  us. 

The  enemy  gradually  pressed  around  my  left  with  an  increasing 
force.  I  reluctantly  gave  the  order  to  fall  back.  We  retired  about 
three  hundred  yards  without  any  great  confusion.       We  here  found 


54 

Pettus'  brigade  in  line  of  battle,  the  prolongation  of  which  line  we 
had  selected  for  a  second  position.  Had  General  Jackson  informed 
me  that  his  brigade  was  coming  to  our  support,  and  had  thrown  it  for- 
ward to  the  trenches  on  our  left,  I  am  confident  there  would  have  been 
no  necessity  for  withdrawing  my  command  from  the  first  position,  as 
this  would  have  prevented  our  being  flanked,  or  could  have  driven 
back  the  enemy  from  the  left.  Had  General  Jackson  been  on  the 
ground  and  given  proper  orders  for  the  disposition  of  his  command,  I 
feel  assured  the  result  would  have  been  very  different.  The  second 
line  we  held  until  about  two  o'clock,  A.  M.,  the  25th,  when  we  were 
ordered  to  fall  back  south  of  Chattanooga  creek. 

Our  position  on  Missionary  Ridge,  on  the  25th,  was  between  Wal- 
thall's brigade  on  our  right  and  Jackson's  on  the  left.  After  the 
enemy  broke  our  centre,  Jackson's  brigade  was  placed  perpendicular 
to  the  former  line  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  sweeping  along  the  line 
to  the  right.  General  Cheatham  ordered  me  to~march  my  brigade  by 
the  flank,  in  rear  of  and  to  the  left  of  Jackson's,  so  as  to  cover  the 
base  of  the  ridge,  and  support  that  brigade.  While  executing. this 
order,  and  just  as  our  leading  files  passed  the  left  of  Jackson's  bri- 
gade, that  brigade  gave  way,  rushing  hack  through  the  ranks  of  mine, 
which  was  still  marching  by  the  flank.  After  stopping  them  and 
restoring  some  order,  the  two  brigades  fought  as  one,  both  officers  and 
men,  though  we  had  at  first  great  difficulty  in  holding  them  in  line. 
I  did  not  see  General  Jackson  or  any  of  his  staff  whom  I  recognized, 
except  Captain  Marino,  during  the  engagement. 

The  enemy  made  great  efforts  to  drive  us  from  the  position,  but 
failed.  We  determined  to  hold  it  at  all  hazards,  believing  that  the 
safety  of  the  right  wing  of  the  army,  in  some  measure,  and  particu- 
larly the  artillery,  depended  on  our  holding  this  position,  which  cov- 
ered one  of  the  roads  leading  to  Chickamauga.  We  .held  the  line 
until  nearly  dark,  when  I  observed  the  right  falling  back,  and,  on 
inquiring  the  cause,  was  informed  that  an  order  had  been  passed  down 
the  line  from  Lieutenant  General  Hardee  to  fall  back.  As  a  general 
thing  the  officers  and  men  of  the  brigade  acted,  well.  I  observed  Col- 
onel Wilkeison,  of  the  eighth  Mississippi,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Edwards,  of  the  forty-seventh  Georgia,  of  Jackson's  brigade,  who 
acted  vith  marked  gallantry.  Others  conducted  themselves  well, 
whom  I  did  not  recognize. 

My  own  command  acted  much  better  than  might  have  been  expected 
under  the  circumstances,  as  they  fought  during  the  engagements  of 
the  two  days  with  atrms  that  had  been  condemned  as  unfit  for  service, 
and  which  were  received  while  at  Demopolis,  Ala.,  to  be  used  only  for 
drill  and  guard  duty. 

I  am,  Major,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  C.  MOORE, 
Brigadier  General  commanding. 


REPORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  JACKSON. 

Headquarters  Cheatham's  Division,      ^ 

Near  Dalton,  Georgia,  December  21,  1863.  $ 

Major  J.  J.  Reeve, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General : 

Major:  My  report  of  the  unfortunate  disaster  on  Lookout  noun- 
tain,  on. the  24th  ultimo,  has  been  somewhat  delayed  in  conseqvience 
of  the  delay  of  the  brigade  commanders  in  sending  their  reports  to 
me;  the  last  of  which,  that  of  Brigadier  General  Moore,  was  rec< 
this  day.  The  result  cf  that  day's  operations  and  the  character  of  the 
reports  of  brigade  commanders,  which  are  herewith  enclosed,  require 
of  me  a  report  more  in  detail  than  I  would  otherwise  make  it,  and 
will  excuse  the  personal  cast  which  it  assumes. 

On  the  Oth  November,  1863.  in  conformity  with  orders  from  army 
headquarters,  being  temporarily  in  command  of  Cheatham's  division. 
I  reported  to  Major  General  W.  II.  F.  Walker.  A  reorganization  of 
the  army  having  just  taken  place,  I  hid  with  me,  to  report  to  General 
Walker,  but  one  brigade  of  the  division,  Wright's  brigade  having 
left  at  Charleston,  Tenn.,  under  orders,  and  Moore's  and  Walthall's 
brigades  having  not  then  reported  to  me  under  the  new  organization. 
My  headquarters  were  located  on  the  west  side  of  Chattanooga  creek, 
at  a  point  advised  by  General  Walker,  and  my  brigade  was  placed 
where  he  directed.  On  the  same  day  I  was  invited  by  General  Walker 
to  accompany  him  and  Lieutenant  General  Hardee  to  the  Craven's 
house,  which  1  did  The  ground  in  that  neighborhood  was  passed 
over,  viewed  and  discussed,  but  no  lino  to  fight  on  was  rec online 
by  any  one  present.  Indeed,  it  was  agreed  on  all  hands,  that  the 
position  was  one  extremely  difficult  of  defence  against  a  strong  force 
of  the  enemy  advancing  under  cover  of  a  heavy  artillery  fire. 

General  Walker's  opinion  was  expressed  to  the  effect  that,  at  a  cer- 
tain point  to  which  we  had  walked,  which  was  a  narrow  pass,  artillery 
should  be  placed  in  position,  extending  to  the  left,  for  a  short  di3taucc 
towards  the  top  of  the  mountain  :  that  this  would  prevent  any  surprise 
by  forces  approaching  in  that  direction,  and,  at  the  same  time,  they 
would  answer  the  guns  from  the  hills  on  the  opposite  side  of  Lookout 
creek  :  also  to  have  artillery  near  the  Craven  house  to  answer  the 
Moccasin  battery  guns.  By  the  first  arrangement,  he  said  the  artil- 
lery could  have  retreated  by  the  roads,  and  the  infantry  which  was 
put  there  to  defend  the  artillery  and  pas3  would  have  felt  strong,  and 
been  better  satisfied  and  better  able  to  hold  their  position. 

He  said  his  experience  was  that  infantry  care  but  little  for  artillery 
if  they  have  artillery  to  respond  with,  and  that  they  are  soon  demoral- 
ized when  they  have  quietly  to  sit  and  receive  artillery  fire,  without 
having  some  of  their  own  to  reply  with.  I  ventured  to  express  my 
own  opinion  to  Lieutenant  General  Hardee  subsequently,  and  in  it  I 
differed  somewhat,  not  without  great  presumption,  but  with  equal  diffi- 


56 

dence,  from  that  of  so  experienced  a  soldier  as  General  Walker.  If 
we  were  defeated  on  the  slope,  the  guns,  as  I  thought,  must  inevitably 
be  lost  from  the  impossibility  of  removing  them,  under  fire,  from  their 
positions.  My  plan  of  defence  was  to  place  a  gun  in  every  available 
position  on  Lookout  point,  and  to  sink  the  wheels  or  elevate  the  trails, 
so  as  to  command  the  slope  of  the  mountains  ;  in  addition  to  which  I 
respectfully  suggested  that,  on  the  point,  a  sharpshooter  should  be 
placed  wherever  a  man  could  stand,  so  as  to  annoy  the  flank  of  the 
enemy.  In  my  judgment,  there  was  no  place  northwest  of  the  Craven 
house,  at  which  our  infantry  force  could  be  held  on  the  slope  of  the 
mountain,  and,  in  consequence  of  this  firm  conviction,  I  gave  orders 
to  Brigadier  General  Walthall,  which  are  hereinafter  mentioned. 

Upon  my  return  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  on  the  9th  No /ember, 
1  found  Brigadier  General  Walthall  and  his  brigade  in  camp  there.  Brig. 
General  Moore's  brigade  was  then  at  the  Craven  house,  where  it  had 
been  for  a  time ;  how  long  I  am  not  informed.  General  Walker 
directed  that  Brigadier  General  Gist,  commanding  his  division,  and  I, 
with  my  own  and  Walthall's  brigades,  of  Cheatham's  division,  should 
defend  the  line  from  Chattanooga  creek  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain, 
and  permitted  us  to  divide  the  line,  according  to  our  respective 
strength,  as  we  wished. 

Afier  riding  along  the  line  with  General  Gist,  we  made'  the  appor- 
tionment of  it  and  gave  Orders  to  our  respective  commands.  At  that 
iiive,  I  bad  no  command  over  the  mountain  slope,  altho'igh  one  of  my 
brigades  (Moore's)  of  the  division  was  then  on  duty  at  or  near  the 
Craven  house.  General  Moore  was  in  command  of  that  portion  of 
the  line,  under  General  Walker's  orders,  from  10th  to  14th  Novem- 
ber. The  command  I  found  General  Walker  exercising,  extended 
over  all  the  troops  west  of  Chattanooga' creek,  under  the  general 
supervision  of  Lieutenant  General  Hardee,  and  upon  General  Walker 
going  away,  on  a  short  leave,  on  the  1 2th  November,  which  he  in- 
formed me  he  had  some  weeks  before  applied  for,  and  upon  the  assur- 
ance of  Genera]  Bragg  that  he  would  telegraph  him  when  Sherman 
came  up,  before  which  time  he  anticipated  no  trouble,  this  command 
devolved  on  me.  I  at  once  asked  for  written  instructions  from  the 
corps  commander  as  to  the  mode  of  defence  of  the  line,  but  received 
ncne.  The  command  was  a  unit,  and  was  doubtless  intended  to  be 
handled  as  such.  I  continued  to  exercise  it,  and  gave  orders,  subject 
to  the  approval  of  Lieutenant  General  Hardee,  until  his  headquar- 
ters were  removed  from  the  extreme  right  of  the  army  to  a  point  a 
little  east  of  Chattanooga  creok.     This  was  about  the  1 4th  November. 

About  this  time,  I  went  to  the  top  of  the  mountain  with  Lieutenant 
General  Hardee.  We  there  met  General  Bragg,  and  after  a  view 
from  Lookout  point,  General  Bragg  indicated  a  line  on  the  slope  of 
the  mountain,  which,  from  that  stand- point,  he  thought  ought  to  bo 
the  fighting  line.  As  we  descended  the  mountain,  I  again  rode  out 
with  Lieutenant  General  Llardee  to  the  Craven  house,  and  again 
looked  over  the  ground.  The  line  indicated  by  General  Bragg,  v.ras 
found  to  present  quite  a  different  appearance,  upon  a  close  view,  from 
the  same  as  seen  from  the  mountain  top.     This  line,  as  I  understood 


57 

it,  passed  from  Lockout  point,  a  little  in  resr  of  the  Craven  house, 
and  down  to  a  point  not  far  from  the  junction  of  the  Kelly's  ferry 
and  Craven  house  roads,  and  thence  to  the  precipitous  locks  near 
the  mouth  of  Chattanooga  creek.  The  engineers  were  put  to  work 
under  some  one's  orders — whose  I  do  not  know — and  fatigue  parties 
furnished  to  them  from  my  command,  at  their  request. 

On  the  14th  November,  a  new  disposition  of  the  command  was 
made.  Major  General  Stevenson  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
troops  and  defences  on. the  top  of  Lookout  mountain  The  ranking 
officer  of  Cheatham's  division  was  directed  to  assume  command  of  all 
troops  and  defences  at  and  near  the  Craven  house.  The  ranking 
officer  of  Walker's  division  was  charged  with  the  line  from  the 
of  Lookout  mountain  east  to  Chattanooga  creek,  and  all  the  troops  not 
at  the  points  above  named  This  order  emanated  from  headquarters 
Hardee's  corps,  and  in  conformity  with  it,  as  the  ranking  officer  of 
Cheatham's  division,  I  assumed  command  of  the  trcops  and  defences 
at  and  near  the  Craven  house,  and  on  the  following  day  (the  loth 
November)  established  my  headquarters  at  the  junction  of  the  Sum- 
mertown  road  with  the  mountain  side  road,  leading  to  the  Craven 
house,  with  the  approval  of  Lieutenant  General  Hardee.  On  the  same 
day,  Brigadier  General  Walthall's  brigade  relieved  that  of  Brigadier 
General  Pettus'  near  the  Craven  ho'isc. 

On  the  eight  of  the  lGth  or  17th,  a  fatigue  party  was  ordered  to 
report  to  Lieutenant  Steele,  of  the  engineers,  to  commence  work  on 
the  new  line  below  the  Craven  house.  By  direction  of  Lieutenant 
General  Hardee,  I  went  out,  in  person,  to  see  that  the  work  was  pro- 
gressing ;  found  that  there  was  a  misundcrst an  >  the  place  of 
reporting  ;  walked  down  the  road  a  considerable  distance  along  the 
contemplated  line  ;  then  went  to  the  Craven  house  and  ordered  the 
detail  to  reassemble,  and  to  report  to  Lieutenant  Steele  immediately. 
This  was  at  night.  The  work  was  directed  to  be  done  at  night,  as 
the  working  party  would  be  under  the  fire  of  the  Moccasin  Point  bat- 
teries. 

General  Walthall's  troops  being  some  distance  in  advance  of  the 
proposed  line,  and  exposed  to  the  enemy's  artillery  fire,  I  ordered  him, 
on  the  18th,  with  the  approval  of  Lieutenant  General  Hardee,  to 
shorten  his  picket  line,  as  he  proposed,  and  notice  of  which  I  promptly 
gave  to  General  Stevenson,  and  to  bring  back  his  troops  in  the  rear 
(south)  of  the  Craven  house,  leaving  his  picket  line  where  they 
were,  supported  by  one  regiment. 

Upon  inspection  of  the  ground,  General  Walthall  reported  to  me  i 
that,  as  General  Moore's  troops  were  also  in  the  rear  of  the  Craven 
house,  there  would  not  be  room  enough  for  his  brigade  between  Gen- 
eral  Moore's  and  my  headquarters,  and  said  that,  as  he  supposed  the 
order  I  had  given  him  was  permissive,  rather  than  directory,  if  I  had 
no  objections,  he  would  keep  his  troops  where  they  were.  To  this  I 
assented,  giving  him,  at  the  same  time,  instructions,  if  attacked  by 
the  enemy  in  heavy  force,  to  fall  back  fighting  over  the  rocks.  I  ex- 
pected, by  the  time  his  troops  reached  the  Craven  house,  to  be  with 
them,  and  form  line  of  battle  with  Walthall's  left  against  the  cliff,  and 


53 

his  right  at  or  near  the  Craven  house,  and  Moore  prolonging  this 
line  to  the  right  This  was  the  general  line  pointed  out  by  General 
Bragg,  although  it  had  not  been  defined  by  the  engineers,  nor  had 
any  work  been  done  it  between  the  cliff  and  the  Craven  house.  Be- 
yond the  Craven  house  there  was  no  practicable  line  which  was  not 
enfiladed  by  the  enemy's  batteries,  except  the  covered  way  prepared 
by  General  Jenkins,  and  the  flank  of  that  was  expose;!  to  the  infantry 
attack.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  20th,  (I  believe,)  I  visited  the  works 
below  the  Craven  house,  in  company  with  Captain  Henry,  of  the  di- 
vision staff,  and  spent  some  time  in  their  inspection.  These  works 
being  a  mere  rifle  pit,  would  be  of  no  service  when  the  enemy  were 
once  in  possession  of  the  Craven  house,  as  they  would  thence  be 
taken  in  flank — almost  in  reverse. 

On  the  22d  November,  my  own  brigade  was  ordered  to  report  to 
me,  and  was  moved  from  the  top  of  the  mountain,  to  the  slope  and 
placed  in  the  position  which  I  had  desired  General  Walthall  to  take. 
On  the  23d,  it  was  ordered  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  out  of  ray 
command,  to  take,  with  Cumming's  brigade,  the  place  on  the  line 
which  had  been  occupied  by  Walker's  division — my  position  and  that 
of  General  Stevenson — and  thus  each  were  weakened  by  a  brigade. 
On  the  same  day  a  brisk  fire  of  artillery  and  small  arms  was  heard, 
coming  from  the  extreme  right.  It  was  supposed  to  be  a  struggle  for 
wood.  Late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  23d,  General  Stevenson  was 
pliiced  in  command  of  the  forces  west  of  Chattanooga  creek,  Lieu- 
tenant General  Hardee  having  been  removed  to  the  extreme  right, 
and  on  the  sane  night  orders  were  received  and  distributed  to  prepare 
three  days'  cooked  rations,  and  to  hold  the  troops  in  readiness  to  move 
at  a  moment's  notice.  In  order  to  avoid  anything  like  a  suprise 
along  the  line,  at  about  half-past  seven  o'clock,  P  M.,  I  ordered 
Captain  Henry,  of  the  division  staff,  to  visit  the  "  chiefs  of  pickets," 
and  direct  them  to  be  unusually  vigilant  in  watching  the  movements 
of  the  enemy  and  to  guard  against  surprise. 

About  nine  o'clock,  A.  M.,  of  the  24th,  I  received  a  note  from 
General  Walthall  to  the  effect  that  the  enemy  were  moving  in  heavy 
force  towards  our  left ;  that  their  tents  had  nearly  all  disappeared  and 
their  pontoon  bridges  been  cut  away.  Shortly  afterwards,  I  received 
another  note  from  him,  to  the  effect  that  he  was  mistaken  as  to  the 
number  of  tents  that  had  disappeared,  but  that  many  of  those  which 
could  be  seen  on  previous  days  were  not  then  visible.  The  originals 
of  both  these  notes  were  immediately  dispatched  to  General  Bragg, 
and  copies  to  General  Stevenson.  I  also  sent  a  staff  officer  to  order 
Generals  Moore  and  Walthall  to  hold  their  commands  under  arms, 
ready  for  action.  I  walked  out  on  the  road  towards  the  Craven  house, 
to  a  favorable  point,  and  could  distinguish  the  enemy's  troops  in  the 
plain  in  front  of  Chattanooga  ;  all  quiet ;  no  massing  ;  no  movements  of 
any  kind.  From  this  point  I  sent  another  staff  officer  to  the  Craven 
house,  to  report  to  me,  immediately,  anything  of  interest,  and  returned 
myself  to  my  position  at  the  fork  of  the  road.  The  demonstrations  of 
the  enemy  did  not,  down  to  this  time,  indicate  the  point  of  attack, 
whether  upon  my  portion  of  the  line,  or  further  to  the  left.     General 


Stevenson  inquired  of  me  about  this  time,  if  Lneeded  reinforcements, 
to  which  I  replied,  that  I  could  not  tell  until  there  were  further 
developments.  I  sent  orders,  by  a  staff  officer,  to  Generals  Moore 
and  Walthall,  to  place  their  troops  in  line  as  soon  as  skirmishing 
commenced,  but  not  unnecessarily  to  expose  them  to  the  fire  of  the 
enemy's  artillery.  I  expected,  from  the  rugged  nature  of  the  ground, 
and  the  fact  that  the  enemy  had  to  ascend  the  mountain,  that  the 
picket  fighting  would  continue  for  some  time  before  the  main  body  would 
be  engaged.  About  this  time  I  received  a  message  from  Gen.  Moore, 
that  be  did  not  know  where  the  line  was.  I  sent  back  immediately 
an  order  that  General  Walthall  would  occupy  the  left,  and  that  he 
(General  Moore,)  would  form  on  General  Walthall's  right,  pro! 
ing  the  line  in  the  earthworks  below  the  Craven  house,  as  far  as  his  • 
troops  would  extend.  About  twelve,  M.,  I  received  a  note  from  Gen- 
eral Moore,  that  the  enemy  had  formed  line  and  commenced  skir- 
mishing with  our  pickets  near  ihe  railroad  bridge,  crossing  Lookout 
creek  ;  that  he  could  not  then  tell  their  object,  and  enquiring  where 
he  should  place  his  brigade.  I  sent  to  General  Stevenson  to  ask  for 
the  offered  reinforcements. 

Information  came  to  me  from  General  Walthall,  about  the  E 
time,  that  the  pickets  had  commenced  firing,  and  a  message  from  Gen. 
Stevenson,  by  Major  Tickett,  that  the  enemy  was  making  an  attack 
on  my  line.  I  now  asked,  in  writing,  for  a  brigade  from  General  Ste- 
venson, to  bo  seuf.  down  at  once,  and  ordered  Major  John  Ingram, 
int  adjutant  general,  to  direct  General  Walthall  to  fight  back 
the  enemy  with  his  pickets  and  reserves  as  long  as  possible,  and 
finally  to  take  position  with  his  left  against  the  cliff,  and  his  right 
at  or  in  direction  of  the  Craven  house,  and  to  direct  General  Moore 
to  advance  and  form  on  the  right  of  General  Walthall,  and  prolong 
the  line  in  the  earthworks  below  the  Craven  house,  passing  General 
Moore's  brigade  moving  up  to  their  position,  and  to  support  General 
Walthall's  brigade,  which  was  being  rapidly  driven  back  by  over- 
whelming numbers. 

The  substance  of  ray  order  was  delivered  by  Major  Ingram  to  Gen- 
erals Moore  and  Walthall.  The  latter  stated  that  although  the  order 
did  not  reach  him  in  time,  he  had  carried  it  out  in  his  efforts  to  defend 
the  position.  General  Moore,  expressing  a  desire  to  have  full  sup- 
ply of  ammunition,  was  informed  by  Major  Ingram  that  Captain. 
Claik,  division  ordnance-  officer,  had  been  ordered  to  furnish  him  from 
the  division  train.  Within  a  few  minutes  after  Major  Ingram  left,  as 
bearer  of  the  above  order  to  Generals  Moore  and  Waltfrnll,  I  pro- 
ceeded in  person,  accompanied  by  Major  Vaulx,  of  the  division  staff, 
to  superintend  the  execution.  Passing  a  great  many  stragglers,  offi- 
cers and  men,  along  the  road,  I  was  met  at  some  short  distance 
from  the  Craven  house  by  an  officer  from  General  Walthall,  who 
brought  the  information  that  bis  brigade  had  been  driven  back  in  con- 
siderable confusion  and  that  the  Craven  house  was  in  possession  of 
the  enemy.  I  immediately  dispatched  a  staff  officer  to  speed  the 
reinforcements  and  endeavored  to  rally  the  men,  who  were  coming  to 
the   rear  in  large  numbers,  and  form  a  line,   where  I  was  selecting 


60 

what  I  considered  the  most  favorable  position  for  a  line,  among  rocks, 
where  no  regular  line  was  practicable,  and  where  the  battle  could  be 
but  a  general  skirmish.     Failing  in  this,  I  rode  back  to  the  junction 
of  the  roads,  and    there  met    Brigadier    General    Pettus,    with  three 
regiments  of  his  brigade.     He  informed  me  that  he  had  been  ordered 
by  General  Stevenson  to  report  to  me.     I  directed  him  to  proceed  on 
the  road  and  form   line  to  reinforce  Generals  Moore  and  Walthall. 
I  at  the  same  time  sent  for  a  piece  of  artillery  from  the  battalion  of 
the  division,  and  upon   its   arrival,   directed  the   officer  in  command 
to  select  the  most  favorable  position  on  the    Craven  house    road   and 
check  the  enemy.      He  soon  atter  reported  that  he  could  find  no  posi- 
tion in   which    he  could  use   his  gun  to  advantage,  and  for  not  more 
than  one  or  two  shots  at  all.     I   remained  generally  at  the  junction 
of  the  two  roads,  because  I  considered  it  most   accessible    from    all 
points.      General  Stevenson  was  communicating  with  me  by  the  road 
down  the  mountain,  and  Generals  Pettus  and  Walthall  by  the  cross- 
road.    General  Pettus  informed  me,  by  an   officer,  of  the  disposition 
made  or  his  troops,  and    asked  for  orders.     Having  placed  his  regi- 
ments on  the  left  of  the  cross-road,  with  their  left  against  the  cliff, 
and  extended  intervals  so  as  to   connect  with   General  Moore  on  the 
right  of  the  road,  I  had  no  orders  to   give  him  except  to   hold   that 
position  against  the  enemy.     His  dispositions  were  satisfactory,  and 
I  did  not  wish  to  change   them.     I  subsequently   received  a  message 
from  him,  that  the  enemy  was  pressing  his  left  and  asking  for  rein- 
forcements, and  at  the  same  time  I  was  informed  by  one  of  the  divis- 
ion staff  that  General  Walthall  had  sent  the   fragments  of  two  regi- 
ments to  that  point  and  there  was  no  danger  to  be  apprehended  there. 
I  replied  to  General  Pettus  that  I  had  no  reinforcements  to  send  him  ; 
that  no  more  could  be  obtained  from  General  Stevenson,  and  he- must 
hold  his  position. 

The  enemy  being  held  in  check,  matters  so  continued,  not  mate- 
rially changed,  until  quite  late  in  the  afternoon,  when  1  received  a 
report,  by  an  officer  of  General  Moore's  brigade,  that  unless  he  was 
reinforced  his  right  would  be  turned.  Receiving  intelligence  also 
from  officers  of  pickets,  who  had  escaped  that  way,  that  the  Kelley's 
Ferry  road  was  entirely  open,  I  knew  that  the  enemy  had  only  to 
press  forward  on  it  to  obtain  control  of  our  road  from  the  mountain  ; 
find,  expecting  that  they  would  certainly  do  so,  1  rode  to  the  top  of 
the  mountain  to  confer  v-ith  General  Stevenson,  my  immediate  supe- 
rior, upon  the  subject.  We  agreed  that  if  the  enemy, did  get  posses- 
sion of  the  road  at  or  near  the  base  of  the  mountain,  I  should  with- 
draw the  troops  of  my  command  at  dark,  and  join  him  on  the  top  of 
the  mountain,  and  he  so  directed  Availing  myself  of  General  Ste- 
venson's writing  material,  I  addressed  written  orders  to  the  division 
quartermaster,  commissary,  ordnance  officer  and  chief  of  artillery,  who 
were  in  the  plain  below,  to  retire  beyoud  Chattanooga  creek,  and  then 
look  for  orders  from  corps  headquarters,  as  I  expected  to  be  cut  off 
from  them.  After  this  short  absence,  I  returned  to  my  position  on  the 
mountain  side,  and  there  remained  until  near  dark,  having  sent  orders 
to  the  brigade  commanders  that  if  we  were  cut  off  or  overpowered,  we 


61 

would  retire  by  the  top  of  the  mountain,  but  to  hold  their  positions, 
if  possible,  until  dark,  and  to  await  further  orders.  When  it  was  near 
dark,  and  when  the  firing  had  become  rather  desultory,  I  again  went 
to  General  Stevenson's  headquarters  for  final  orders  as  to  withdrawing 
the  troops.  I  was  there  informed  that  General  Bragg  ordered  us  to 
retire  down  the  mountain — the  road  being  still  open — and  that  we 
must  assemble  at  the  Gillespie  house,  to  make  final  arrangements. 

A  guard  having  b;en  detailed  from  my  command  for  some  subsis- 
tence stores  on  the  top  of  the  mountain,  I  went  to  relieve  them,  but 
found  that  it  had  already  been  done.  Proceeding  to  the  Gillespie 
house,  at  the  base  of  the  mountain,  I  received  orders  from  General 
Bragg,  through  General  Cheatham,  as  to  the  time  and  mode  of  with- 
draw nig  the  troops,  and  immediately  dispatched  them  to  the  brigade 
commanders  by  the  assistant  adjutant  general  and  the  acting  inspec- 
tor general  of  the  division.  In  conformity  with  these  orders,  the 
troops  retired  south  of  Chattanooga  creek,  and  the  bridge  was  de- 
stroyed. * 

On  the  20th  of  November,  the  date  of  the  report  nearest  to  the  day 
of  the  battle,  Moore's  brigade  hid  a  total  effective  of  one  thousand 
two  hundred  and  five,  and  Walthall's  brigade  a  total  effective  of  one 
thousand  four  hundred  and  eighty-nine.  The  casualties  in  the  first 
were  lour  killed,  forty-eight  wounded  and  one  hundred  and  ninety  nine 
missing.  In  the  second,  the  casualties  were  eight  killed,  ninety-one 
wounded  and  eight  hundred  and  forty-five  captured.  In  Pettus'  brig- 
ade there  were  nine  killed,  thirty-eight  wounded  and  nine  missing. 

General  Moore  ventures  the  opinion  that  if  I  had  given  proper 
orders  a  different  result  would  have  been  accomplished  I  beg  leave 
to  differ.  The  whole  effective  force  at  my  command,  at  the  beginning, 
was  twenty-six  hundred  and  ninety-four  men.  Of  these,  one  thousand 
and  forty-four  had  been  captured,  some  had  been  wounded,  and  a  few 
kiiled.  The  enemy's  force  was  (as  reported)  a  division  and  two  brig- 
ades. They  were  in  possession  of  the  high  grounds  around  the  Cra- 
ven house,  from  which,  by  General  Moore's  own  statement,  his  left 
was  completely  enfiladed.  Under  these  circumstances,  I  was  unwill- 
ing to  hazard  an  advance  movement  with  my  shattered  command, 
though  aided  by  the  three  regiments  under  General  Tettus,  who  was 
himself  pressed  by  the  enemy.  General  Moore  adds  a  report  of  the 
battle  the  next  day  on  Missionary  ridge,  when  he  was  not  under  my 
command,  and  goes  out  of  his  way  to  say  that  he  did  not  see  me 
during  the  engagement.  I  did  not  think  it  necessary  for  me  to  show 
myself  to  him.  If  he  had  desired  to  see  me,  he  could  have  found  me  at 
all  times  during  the  engagement  near  the  right  of  my  line,  which  was 
on  the  top  of  the  ridge,  while  the  left  was  down  the  hill.  If  General 
Moore  means  to  reflect  upon  the  conduct  of  my  brigade,  I  am  glad  to 
say  that  there  are  other  witnesses  who  bear  different  testimony. 

General  Walthall  must  have  misapprehended  the  remark  made  to 
him  as  I  descended  the  mountain.  I  expected  to  receive  orders  from 
General  Bragg,  but  not  to  see  him  in  person.  These  orders  were  to 
come  through  General  Cheatham.  , 

It  may  be  remarked  that  there  were  two  six-pounder  guns  at  the 


62 

Craven  house,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Gibson,  but  they 
■were  without  hor3es,  and  could  not  be  moved.  In  their  position  they 
could  not  be  fired  without  endangering  the  troops  of  General  Walthall. 
Lieutenant  Gibson's  report  accompanies  this.  He  never  reported  to 
me,  although  subject  to  my  orders ;  and  his  two  guns  were  all  the 
artillery  that  I  could  command  for  purposes  of  defence,  although  I 
took  the  responsibility  of  ordering  up  a  piece  from  the  battalion  of 
Cheatham's  division. 

General  Walthall's  communication,  in  relation  to  apiece  of  artillery 
to  be  placed  in  position,  was  sent  by  me,  immediately  on  its  receipt, 
to  General  Stevenson.  Captain  Henry,  of  the  division  staff,  was  the 
#bearer  of  it. 

The  movements  of  the  enemy  were  very  rapid.     An  impenetrable 
fog  hung  around  the  mountain  all  day. 
I  am,  Major,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  K.  JACKSON, 

Brigadier  General. 


ENGAGEMENT  AT  KNOXVILLE. 


RErORT  OF  LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  M.  A.  HAYNE3. 


Department  of  East  Tennessee,  ) 
Knoxville,  June  21,  1SG3.       \ 


To  Major  Von  Shiliha, 

Acting  Chief  of  Staff : 

Sir  :  At  the  request  of  Colonel  Trigg,  temporarily  in  command  of 
the  troops  at  Knoxville,  (in  the  absence  of  Major  General  Buekner,) 
I  have  the  honor  to  report  to  you  the  following  particulars  in  regard 
to  the  battle  of  yesterday  : 

On  the  18th  instant,  I  returned  to  this  city  from  Sevier,  where  I 
had  been  in  command  of  an  expedition  against  a  party  of  bush- 
whackers. 

On  ray  arrival,  I  learned  that  Major  General  Buekner  had  marched 
tn-svards  Big  Creek  gap,  with  all  the  artillery  and  all  the  other  disposa- 
ble force  at  this  post,  except  Colonel  Trigg's  fifty-first  Virginia  regi- 
ment and  Colonel  Finley's  seventh  Florida  regiment,  effective  force 
about  one  thousand  men. 

On  the  morning  of  the  19th  I  was  informed  by  Major  Von  Shiliha, 
acting  chief  of  staff,  that  the  enemy,  in  large  force,  had  passed  by 
London,  and  were  at  Lenoir  station,  twenty- four  miles  from  Knoxville, 
and  he  requested  me  to  take  charge  of  the  artillery  defence  of  the  city 
and  to  organize  my  force  from  the  convalescents  in  the  hospitals  and 
from  citizens,  to  man  my  guns  then  in  the  city.  At  the  same  time  he 
gave  the  following  order: 

"  Headquarters  Department  E^sT  Tennessee. 


t  Imst  Tennessee,  > 
"  June  19,  1863.       t 


"  Major  Reynolds,  chief  of  ordnance,  will  issue  to  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Ilaynes'  corps  artillery,  C.  S,  A.,  as  many  field  pieces  as  can  possibly 
be  put  in  condition  within  a  few  hours. 

."  He  also  will  furnish  Lieutenant  Colonel  Ilaynes  with  all  necessary 
equipments,  and  with  one  hundred  rounds  of  ammunition. 

••  By  order  of  Major  General  Buekner. 

"  J.  Von  Shiliha,  Chief  of  Staff.'1 


64 

In  obedience  to  this  order,  (given  to  me  in  the  absence  of  General 
Biickner,)  I  went  to  the  ordnance  department  and  found  eight  pieces 
of  field  artillery  there,  but  no  harness.  Major  Reynolds  promptly 
said  that  in  one  hour  he  would  have  the  ammunition  chests  filled,  and 
that  they  would  be  subject  to  my  orders. 

I  then  went  to  Major  Glover,  chief  quartermaster  of  East  Tennes- 
see, and  requested  him  to  send  to  the  ordnance  department  seventy 
horses  or  mules  with  harness,  and  drivers  for  every  two. 

In  the  meantime,  the  citizens  of  Knoxville  had  been  ordered  to 
report  to  me  or  to  Colonel  Blake  for  duty,  for  the  defence  of  the  city. 

Finding  myself  too  much  engaged  to  obey  this  order  in  person,  I 
appointed  Major  H.  Baker  (formerly  of  the  artillery  of  Tennessee)  to 
receive  and  assign  them  to  duty  as  they  reported. 

At  three  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  it  was  known  that  the  enemy 
was  within  five  miles  of  the  city,  and  their  advance  were  skirmishing 
Vihh  thirty-seven  of  our  cavalry  men,  all  we  had  at  Knoxville,  at  Mrs. 
Lcmis'  house. 

At  this  hour,  Major  Glover  had  already  sent  the  requisite  number 
of  horses,  mules  and  drivers  for  the  eight  pieces  of  artillery  at  the 
ordnance  department.  I  immediately  posted  them  in  sections  at  Col- 
lege hill,  under  Major  Baker,  (the  exposed  point,)  second  on  McGee's 
hill,  under  Captain  Hugh  L.  W.  McClung,  and  third,  under  Lieuten- 
ant Patterson  and  Lieutenant  J.  J.  Burroughs,  at  Summit  hill,  in  front 
of  the  ordnance  department.  This  last  battery  had  been  fortified 
during  the  afternoon,  under  the  superintendence  of  Captain  Foster,  of 
the  engineers,  (by  my  order,)  with  a  cotton  bale  revetment,  the  cot- 
ton bales  having  been  promptly  sent  from  all  quarters  by  Major 
Glover,  chief  quartermaster. 

During  that  evening,  the  enemy  failing  to  advance,  Colonel  Trigg, 
(temporarily  in  command  at  Knoxville,)  without  consulting  me, 
removed  Major  Baker's  battery  from  College  hill  to  a  point  near  the 
Asylum  hospital. 

In  the  evening,  upon  hearing  the  reports  of  my  officers,  I  ascer- 
tained that  about  two  hundred  persons,  citizens,  and  convalescent  sol- 
diers from  hospitals,  had  reported  for  duty,  and  that  each  of  my  bat- 
teries was  fully  manned,  although,  in  the  morning  of  the  same  day, 
there  was  no  artillery  force  whatever  in  the  city. 

During  the  night  I  made  a  reconnoissance,  passing  through  the 
enemy's  lines  as  a  farmer,  giving  all  the  information  they  desired  in 
regard  to  the  state  of  the  defences  ;  telling  them  that  they  could 
march  into  Knoxville  without  the  loss  of  a  man.  I  told  them  that  I 
eaw  Colonel  Hayne3  about  sunset  moving  some  cannon  towards  the 
depot;  I  thought  about  four  in  all,  drawn  by  mules. 

Having  passed  to  a  point  at  which  it  was  necessary  for  me  to  turn 
off,  and  having  all  the  information  I  could  obtain,  I  returned  to  Knox- 
ville at  midnight.  I  visited  all  my  batteries,  and  advised  them  that 
early  in  the  morning  the  enemy  would  attack,  and  directed  Captain 
McClung  and  Major  Baker  to  consider  themselves  as  reserved,  to  be 
moved  whenever  needed. 

During  the  night,  the  pickets  of  the  enemy  advanced  upon  the  city, 


65 

but  our  pickets,  thrown  out  by  Colonel  Trigg,  after  an  hour's  skir-  - 
mish,  drove  them  back  at  about  two  o'clock  in  the  morning.    At  seven 
o'clock,  on  the  20th,  four  pieces  of  artillery,  detached  by  General 
Buckner  from  his  command,  reached  the  ordnance  depot,  (where  I 
then  was,)  and  I  immediately  conducted  them  to  the  rear  as  a  reserve. 

I  then  went  to  Summit  Hill  battery,  where  I  found  Colonel  Trigg 
and  his  chief  of  staff,  Major  Shiliha,  near  the  hospital.     While  in 
consultation  with  them,  we  saw  the  enemy  march  at  double  quick, 
time  on  our  right,  beyond  the  work-shops,  where  we  had  neither 
tery  nor  soldiers  to  oppose  them.     Colonel  Trigg  soon  afterwards  or-  ■ 
dered  Colonel  Finley's  seventh  regiment   Florida  volunteers,  and  two 
pieces  of  Wyley's  battery,  to  take  possession  of  Temperance  hill,  but 
before  this  order  was  given  I  had  taken  a  section  of  Wyley's  battery, 
and  moved  them  at  a  gallop  to  a  point  immediately  in  front  of  the 
advancing  column,  and   opened  fire   upon   them  with  spherical  case. 
The  enemy  took  shelter  behind  houses  and  fences,  and  threw  forward 
sharpshooters  within  two  hundred  yards  cf  our  battery — we   being 
entirely  unsupported  by  infantry,  and  four  hundred  yards  from  any 
support. 

At  the  same  time,  a  battery  of  three-inch  rifle  guns,  belonging  to 
the  enemy,  opened  upon  us  at  eight  hundred  yards,  and,  during  the 
first  two  or  three  shots,  killed  and  wounded  some  of  our  men  and 
several  horses.  I  then  advanced  the  battery,  and  ordered  them  not 
to  fire  at  the  artillery,  but  at  the  infantry. 

The  enemy,  at  this  moment,  forming  column,  advanced  rapidly,  and, 
for  a  moment,  I  supposed  the  day  was  lost.  At  this  moment,  the 
chief  of  the  twelfth  howitzer  said  to  me,  "  Colonel,  I  can't  hit  them 
fellows ;  please  get  down  and  try  it  yourself."  I  dismounted,  took 
my  post  as  a  gunner  to  the  left,  ordered  canister  and  sighted  the  piece 
myself,  and,  after  two  rounds,  the  enemy  was  in  full  retreat,  and  the 
day  was  won. 

During  the  same  time,  the  battery  under  Lieutenant  J.  J.  Bur- 
roughs and  Lieutenant  Patterson,  on  Summit  hill,  was  also  engaged, 
and  kept  up  a  continual  fire,  during  which  Captain  McClung  and 
Lieutenant  Fellows  were  killed. 

The  section  under  Lieutenant  Whelon  having  reached  Temperance 
hill,  opened  fire  upon  the  retreating  enemy,  which,  with  the  fire  from 
Wyley's  battery,  Burroughs'  battery,  and  Major  Baker's  completed 
the  victory. 

During  the  fight,  although  sharpshooters  were  sent  out  against  us, 
none  were  sent  out  to  sustain  us,  although  one  thousand  men  were 
immediately  behind  us.     , 

The  enemy  had  one  battery  of  artillery,  and  about  two  thousand 
six  hundred  men,  opposed  to  about  one  thousand  men,  part  of  whom 
were  citizens  and  convalescent  soldiers.  That  they  were  fully  beaten 
may  appear  from  the  fact  that  the  commanding  officer  of  the  enemy 
sent  to  me  a  message,  (by  Lieutenant  Lutrell,  of  the  Confederate 
States  army,  a  prisoner  paroled  by  him,)  to  the  effect,  "  I  send  you 
my  compliments,  and  say  that,  but  for  the  admirable  manner  with 


66 

which,  you  managed  your  artillery,  I  would  have  taken  Knoxville  to- 
day." 

It  is  not  out  of  place  for  me  to  say  that  Colonel  E.  D.  Blake,  chief 
of  conscripts,  and,  for  the  day,  commander  of  all  volunteer  infantry, 
contributed,  by  his  zeal  and  well-known  courage,  to  the  honorable  re- 
sult. 

Amongst  many  citizens  who  reported  to  me  that  day  for  duty,  I 
must  not  forget  to  mention  Honorable  Landon  C.  Haynes,  Honorable 
W.  H.  Sneed,  Honorable  John  H.  Crozier,  Reverend  James  H.  Mar- 
tin and  Reverend  Mr.  Woolfolk,  and  many  others,  who  do  not  desiro 
me  to  mention  their  names. 

With  such  compatriots  and  such  fellow-soldiers,  I  might,  willingly, 
at  any  time,  meet  the  foe. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 
MILTON  A.  HAYNES, 
Lt.  Col.  P.  A.  C.  S.,  commanding  artillery. 


ENGAGEMENT 


AT 


LIMESTONE    CREEK. 


REFORT  OF  LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  M.  A.  HAYNE3. 


HEADQUARTERS     ArTII  LEP.7  .         } 

Fourth  District,  Department  of  East  Tenne.;_:?f,  \ 
Jonesboro',  September  12,  1864       ) 

Captain  W.  B.  Ref.?e, 

Assistant  Adjutant   General  i 

Sir  :  In  obedience  to  the  orders  of  the  Brigadier  General  command- 
ing, I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  to  you,  the  reports  of  Lieutenants 
Blackwell  and  Graham,  of  Burroughs  battery,  in  regard  to  the  en- 
gagement with  the  Federal  force,  commanded  by  Colonel  Hayes,  of 
the  one  hundredth  Ohio  regiment,  on  the  8th  instant. 

These  officers  have  detailed  the  incidents  of  the  8th  so  well  that.  I 
have  but  little  to  add. 

On  the  6th,  as  you  know,  our  whole  force  was  at  Bristol,  on  which 
day  we  marched  to  Jonesboro',  arriving  there  on  the  morning  of  the 
vth.  The  enemy  had  already  been  in  Jonesboro';  taken  away  many 
citizens  prisoners  and  carried  them  off,  and  having  possession  of  the 
trains  south  of  Jonesboro',  they  told  their  Union  friends  (as  reported 
to  us)  that  they  would  be  back  on  the  8th.  Many  citizens  had  been 
despoiled  by  the  e.ncmy,  and  my  forces  were  anxious  to  avenge  their 
wrongs. 

At  two  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  General  Jackson  sent 
me  an  order  requiring  me  to  send  immediately  forward  one  piece  ot 
artillery.  I  sent  a  six-pounder  with  sixty  rounds,  and  went  inyseli 
to  see  them  off;  but  at  the  General's  headquarters  I  was  met  by  one 
of  his  officials  who  told  me  I  was  ordered  to  remain  in  charge.  I 
returned  to  my  quarters,  and  early  in  the  morning,  I  heard  the  sound 
of  artillery  and  then  of  small   arms.     An  order  soon  came  requiring 


68 


'two  companies  of  infantry,  which  were  sent.  About  eight  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  a  messenger  came  from  General  Jackson,  saying  "  send 
me  all  your  artillery  and  all  the  infantry  except  one  company."  My 
artillery  was  already  harnessed  and  every  man  at  his  post,  and,  at  the 
word,  they  were  on  the  march,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Walker's  bat- 
talion North  Carolina  volunteers,  three  hundred  strong,  followed. 

Arriving  at  Tilford's  station,  where  we  had  the  battle  of  the  morn- 
ing, we  saw  our  wounded,  and  heard  that  the  enemy  were  in  retreat, 
and  that  General  Jackson  was  in  pursuit.  Not  knowing  in  what 
direction  friends  or  foes  had  gone,  we  pursued  in  a  gallop,  and  at 
about  nine  o'clock,  we  heard  the  discharge  of  artillery  at  Limestone 
bridge. 

Pursuing  our  course  as  rapidly  as  possible,  we  soon  came  to  the 
scene  of  action,  and  placed  our  pieces  in  battery.  At  that  moment 
Colonel  Giltner,  of  the  Kentucky  cavalry,  with  his  men  dismounted, 
was  engaged  with  the  enmy  on  the  opposite  side  of  Limestone  creek, 
cutting  off  the  communication  of  the  enemy,  by  railroad,  south.  Soon 
sfter,  Colonel  Walker  came  up  with  his  men,  who  had  marched  at 
double-quick  time  twelve  miles.  At  my  suggestion, they  were  ordered  to 
lie  down  and  rest  for  thirty  minutes,  and  during  that  time  the  enemy's 
sharpshooters  were  firing  upon  our  battery,  and  we  were  amusing  them 
by  a  few  discharges  of  spherical  case  shot. 

As  soon  as  Colonel  Walker's  men  had  rested  they  deployed  as 
skirmishers  to  the  left,  to  clear  the  woods,  and  Major  McCanny's  bat- 
talion on  the  right  to  sustain  the  battery.  At  that  moment  the  enemy 
had  possesion  of  a  skirt  of  woods  in  front  of  the  blockhouse  and  stone 
and  brick  buildings,  occupied  by  them  as  barracks,  distant  about  one 
thousand  yards  from  our  position. 

The  infantry  advancing,  as  arranged,  charged  the  enemy's  skir- 
mishers, the  battery  covering  them  by  throwing  case  and  canister  into 
the  woods  occupied  by  them. 

With  a  shout  and  a  hurrah  for  the  "  Bonnie  Blue  Flag"  the  North 
Carolina  boys  made  the  charge  and  the  enemy  fled  before  them,  as 
you  and  the  General  well  know. 

The  enemy  being  now  within  the  blockhouse  and  other  houses,  were 
pouring  upon  us  a  shower  of  minnie  balls. 

When  we  had  thus  driven  the  enemy  into  their  last  retreat,  (Colo- 
nel Giltner  with  his  gallant  Kentuckians  accompanying  to  the  other 
side  of  the  creek,)  1  brought  the  guns  of  Burrough's  battery,  then 
^jnder  Blackwell,  into  position  and  opened  fire  upon  them  with  spherical 
case  and  canister  shot,  Colonel  Giltner's  small  rifle  guns  joining  in 
the  action.  The  enemy  in  the  meantime  kept  up  on  us  a  very  sharp 
fire  of  small  arms  (enfield,)  and  then  (as  Sterne  says)  a  white  flag 
appeared. 

By  order  of  General  Jackson,  I  went  down,  accompanied  by  Cap- 
tain Robert  B.  Haynes,  aid-de-camp,  and  accepted  the  side  arms  of 
near  three  hundred  and  fifty  Yankee  officers  and  soldiers,  the  remnant 
of  four  hundred  and  fifty,  who  began  the  fight  in  the  morning. 
-Among  tke  men  who,  by  their  gallantry,  contributed  to  the  result, 


69 

were  Lieutenant  Colonel  James  Bottles  and  Captain  Jenkins,  both  vol- 
unteers for  the  occasion,  but  men  whose  bravery  could  not  be  exceeded. 
Our  troops,  of  all  arms,  behaved  with  courage,  and  all  within  their 
sphere  contributed  to  the  general  and  honorable  result,  among  whom 
I  ought  not  to  leave  out,  and  do  not  leave  out,  the  names  of  the  gallant 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Wynne,  of  Georgia,  Colonel  Giltner,  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  among  whom,  and  over  all  of  us,  was  the  gallant  command- 
ing General. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

MILTON  A.  IIAYNES, 
Lieutenant  Colonel,  P.  A.  C.  S.,  covunanding  Artillery. 


ENGAGEMENT  AT  CARTERS  STATION, 


REPORI  OF  LIEUTENAT  COLONEL  M.  A.  I1AYXE3. 


HEADQl ARTERS    DEPARTMENT    Ea-T    TeKNESSEE,  ) 

ZoUicafir,  Sept.  22,  1S63.     ) 
Major  Stanton,  A.  A.  General : 

Sir  :  In  regard  to  the  engagement  of  yesterday  and  the  day  be- 
fore, on  the  banks  of  the  Wautauga  river,  at  Carters  station,  I  have 
this  to  report  to  you,  to  be  submitted  to  the  commanding  General : 

On  the  morning  of  the  1.9th  (General  Jackson  being  in  commands 
I  posted  my  batteries  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  depot,  upon  the 
heights,  and  soon  afterwards  the  enemy  in  front  attacked  the  cavalry 
under  General  Crittenden,  and  for  three  hours  a  sharp  skirmish  was 
kept  up  between  our  forces  and  the  enemy.  During  this  time  the 
enemy  pushed  forward  a  battery  of  three-inch  rilled  guns  (Parrott) 
and  opened  upon  our  batteries;  but,  by  the  direction  of  myself  and 
Colonel  King,  our  batteries  never  returned  their  fire 

During  this  time  I  rode  forward  to  the  scene  of  the  engagement 
and  requested  General  Crittenden  to  allow  me  to  bring  my  guns  into 
the  action,  but  he  told  me  at  that  moment  they  would  be  of  no  use. 
Soon  after  a  train  arrived  from  Zollicofter,  bearing  General  John  B. 
Williams  and  his  brigade,  of  which  was  the  forty-fifth  Virginia,  com- 
manded by  Colonel  Brown. 

I  immediately  went  with  General  Williams  to  examine  the  position 
of  our  forces,  and,  by  his  orders,  during  that  night,  I  constructed  a 
foot  bridge  on  trestles  across  the  Wautauga  river,  a  half  a  mile  above 
the  railroad  bridge  in  order  to  effect  a  communication  with  our  forces 
who  were  stationed  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  In  the  con- 
struction of  this  bridge  I  was  aided  by  Colonel  Johnson,  of  Ar- 
kansas, and  the  Hon.  Joseph  B.  Heiskell,  member  of  Congress  from  ' 
Tennessee,  both  of  whom  were  volunteers  for  the  occasion,  and  at  nine 
o'clock  that  night  the  bridge  was  completed. 

At  three  in  the  morning  of  the  20th,  the  enemy,  having  advanced 
a  battery  of  rifled  pieces,  opened  a  spirited  fire  upon  the  depot,  where 
there  were  three  trains  loaded  with  quartermasters  and  commissary's 


stores,  to  be  sent  to  Zollicoffer  ;  but,  by  order  of  General  Williams, 
neither  our  batteries  or  infantry  returned  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  In 
the  morning  our  cavalry,  dismounted,  under  General  Crittenden,  ad- 
vanced upon  the  enemy,  and  for  some  two  or  three  hours  skirmished 
with  with  them.  During  this  time,  two  regiments  of  the  enemy  leaving 
passed,  with  banners  flying  and  drums  beating,  under  the  shelter  of 
a  hill,  deployed  in  front  of  McClung's  battery,  which  was  on  the  south 
side  of  the  river  at  about  five  thousand  yards  distant,  evidently  with 
the  intention  of  storming  it ;  and  Captain  McClung  (although  com- 
manded not  to  fire  without  my  order,)  opened  upon  them  with  spherical 
case,  and,  after  about  forty  rounds,  no  enemy  was  to  be  seen  but  the 
dead. 

In  the  afternoon  the  enemy  suddenly  displayed  a  battery  of  artil- 
lery in  a  point  of  woods  near  our  position,  and  then  General  Williams 
said,  "  turn  your  guns  loose,"  and  under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant 
Colonel  King,  Lowry's  battery  of  Napoleon  guns,  and  Burrough's 
battery  of  rifled  guns,  opened  on  the  enemy's  battery,  and  in  about 
twenty  minutes  the  enemy  was  no  longer  to  be  seen.  After  dark 
General  Williams  ordered  me  to  take  three  companies  of  infantry 
across  the  river,  deploy  them  as  skirmishers,  and  bring  on  an  action 
at  the  setting  of  the  moon.  Lieutenant  Colonel  King,  of  the  artillery 
was  to  take  charge  of  Colonel  Brown's  regiment,  which  was  to  support 
me,  by  a  movement  on  the  right.  In  obedience  to  these  orders  I  de- 
ployed three  companies  as  skirmishers  at  eight  paces,  covering  the 
entire  front  of  the  enemy's  pickets,  and  within  two  hundred  yards 
of 'them,  with  orders  to  open  upon  the  enemy  when  the  moon  set,  and 
it  was  already  in  the  trees  when  an  order  came  to  me  by  assistant  ad- 
jutant general  Reese,  requiring  me  to  withdraw  my  forces  and 
McClung's  battery,  and  burn  the  bridge,  which  order  was  given  to 
me  in  the  name  of  Major  General  Sam  Jones,  communicated  from 
ZollicofFer  by  telegraph.  This  order  was  obeyed,  except  I  had  to 
abandon  the  carriages  of  McClung's  battery,  bringing  off  the  metal 
only,  and  the  three  companies  posted  on  the  hill  to  the  left  of 
McClung's  battery,  effected  their  escape  by  crossing  on  the  trestle 
bridge,  which  had  been  built  the  night  before  by  order  of  General 
Williams.  And  that  night  at  four  o'clock  I  started  with  all  my  guns 
to  Zollicoffer,  where  gl  reported  to  Major  General  Sam  Jones  for 
duty  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Very  respectfully,  vour  obedient  servant, 

MILTON  A.  HAYNES, 
Lieutenant  Colonel,  P.  A.  C.  S.y  commanding  Artillery. 


Hollinger  Corp. 
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